UN says Gaza is becoming 'graveyard for children'

Call for ceasefire and hostage release

“The Israeli Defense Forces’ ground operations and continued bombardment are hitting civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches and United Nations facilities – including shelters. No one is safe,” Mr Guterres told reporters.

“Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields and continue to fire rockets indiscriminately at Israel,” he added, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

A young victim is taken to the emergency room in Gaza. Photo: AP

Israel says 31 soldiers have been killed since it began expanding its ground operation in Gaza on 27 October and reiterates that Hamas is hiding among civilians and in hospitals. Hamas says the suggestion that it has bases in hospitals is a “false narrative that the United Nations needs to verify”.

Health authorities in the Hamas-controlled enclave say at least 10,022 people have died in Gaza since then, including 4,104 children. “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children,” said Secretary-General Guterres. “Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly killed or injured every day.”

International organizations say hospitals are unable to cope with the injured and food and clean water are running out while aid supplies are falling short.

Mr Guterres said 89 people working with the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) were among the dead. UNRWA said five colleagues had died in the past 24 hours alone.

"We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It's been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now," said a statement from 18 UN organisations earlier.

The United States is working to arrange pauses in the conflict to allow for aid deliveries rather than a full ceasefire. The White House said President Joe Biden discussed such a pause and the release of hostages in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, reiterating his support for Israel and stressing that it must protect civilians.

The Israeli military said the four-hour deadline for civilians to leave the north would be repeated daily. UN monitoring showed fewer than 2,000 people used the corridor on Sunday, citing fear and damaged roads. A US envoy said on Saturday that between 350,000 and 400,000 people remained in northern Gaza.

Israeli infantry approach targets

Regarding the war situation, the Israeli army said its forces had captured a militia area and were ready to attack Hamas militants hiding in tunnels and bunkers in the northern Gaza Strip, after isolating the area with troops and tanks.

Israeli tanks and infantry have begun pouring into densely populated areas in northern Gaza. Photo: AP

They also released video of tanks moving through bombed-out streets and troops moving on foot. “We’re going to start getting to them now,” Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters.

Meanwhile, Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said it had destroyed 27 Israeli military vehicles in 48 hours and inflicted significant losses in direct clashes with the Israeli army.

Israel said it was also attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to a barrage of rockets fired at northern Israeli cities, escalating the worst clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border since 2006. Hamas said it had launched 16 rockets toward Nahariyya and South Haifa in Israel.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN, AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lien-hop-quoc-noi-gaza-dang-tro-thanh-nghia-dia-cho-tre-em-post271383.html