UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire | Guterres: Gaza has become a 'graveyard for children'; Eli Cohen: Shame on you

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said on Monday that Gaza is becoming a 'graveyard for children.' Palestinian health officials have reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks has exceeded 10,000. Both Israel and Hamas have resisted international pressure for a ceasefire. Israel is demanding the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack. Hamas refuses to release them or halt the fighting while Gaza is under attack. The UN Secretary-General stated, 'The conflict in Gaza has seen ground operations by the Israeli army and continuous bombings, which have had numerous consequences for civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, and UN facilities.' He also mentioned that Hamas is using civilians as human shields while firing rockets at Israel, as international organizations report that hospitals are filled with patients and Gaza is suffering from severe shortages of food and clean water. While efforts for a humanitarian ceasefire continue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is consulting with regional allies to send humanitarian aid and reduce tensions in the Middle East. These conflicts have also heightened tensions with Lebanon, as Hezbollah is launching rockets from Lebanon towards Israel. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, had previously warned that the world is witnessing a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. It is noteworthy that Eli Cohen, Israel's Foreign Minister, in response to Guterres' remarks calling Gaza a 'graveyard for children' and calling for a ceasefire, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'Shame on you.' He referred to over 30 children, including an Israeli infant, who 'witnessed the killing of their parents' by Hamas forces and have been taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. Cohen continued, 'The problem in Gaza is Hamas, not the actions of Israel, which aims to destroy this terrorist group.'