Israel-Hamas war: UN warns of Gaza becoming "graveyard for children"

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which he said was "becoming a graveyard for children."

"The unfolding catastrophe makes the need for a humanitarian ceasefire more urgent with every passing hour," said Guterres on Monday. "The parties to the conflict… and, indeed, the international community… face an immediate and fundamental responsibility: to stop this inhuman collective suffering and dramatically expand humanitarian aid to Gaza. The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity."

Guterres invoked Israel's refusal to allow fuel into the region, which it claims would be used by Hamas. "Without fuel, newborn babies in incubators and patients on life support will die. The way forward is clear. A humanitarian ceasefire — now. All parties respecting all their obligations under international humanitarian law," he said. 

The diplomat, who infuriated Israel in late October by suggesting the Hamas attack had not taken place in a vacuum, again voiced shock over the, "clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing… Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law."

Guterres also forcefully condemned Hamas' "abhorrent acts of terror" and repeated his call for the release of over 200 individuals abducted by the Islamist group and taken to Gaza, where they continue to be held hostage.

Pentagon on Gaza deaths: 'We know the numbers are in the thousands'

The US acknowledged there have been "thousands" of civilian deaths in Gaza, although it did not provide an exact figure.

It comes as President Joe Biden has previously questioned the validity of the numbers published by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Following Biden's comments, senior UN officials said the health ministry figures had proven generally reliable in past conflicts.

"As it relates to civilian casualties in Gaza... we know the numbers are in the thousands," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told journalists when asked about the recent Gaza health ministry's announcement of 10,000 casualties.

"This is a reason why it has been a point of emphasis with the Israelis and others in the region on how important it is to get humanitarian assistance and aid into Gaza," Ryder said.

Biden pitches Israeli humanitarian pause in call with Netanyahu

US President Joe Biden on Monday discussed pauses in Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza to allow for humanitarian assistance in the besieged region.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed the issue in a phone conversation and that the two had agreed to speak again later in the week. 

Though Washington has rejected others' calls for a cease-fire, it is pushing the idea of short tactical breaks that might allow more aid into Gaza as well as open the possibility for hostage negotiations. Hamas militants are currently holding more than 200 people hostage after abducting them from Israel on October 7.

Washington voiced concern over the amount of aid trickling into Gaza as Israel keeps it besieged.

One of the most densely populated areas in the world, Gaza's more than 2.2 million people have been cut off and under siege after Hamas terrorists launched an October 7 attack into Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims that more than 10,000 people in the tiny strip of land have been killed since October 7.

Though outside groups and governments have called Israel's response disproportionate, the Israeli government has refused to let up, pointing to Hamas and its allies' stated goal of destroying Israel. 

Israel to take 'security responsibility' over Gaza Strip

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his country would take "security responsibility" over the Gaza Strip after the war.

"Israel will, for an indefinite period, will have the overall security responsibility," he said in a television interview with US broadcaster ABC.

"When we don't have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn't imagine."

Several governments consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization including the US, the EU and Germany.

Netanyahu also said hat there would be no ceasefire in Gaza until hostages were released by Hamas. The militants are holding more than 200 people hostage after abducting them from Israel on October 7.

"There will be no ceasefire, general ceasefire, in Gaza, without the release of our hostages," he said.