UN chief says ‘something clearly wrong’ with Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip with thousands of children killed

The head of the UN said Wednesday that thousands of children in the Gaza Strip were killed, which he said shows that there is "something clearly wrong in the way that military operations are being done."

"Every year, the highest number of killing of children by any of the actors in all the conflicts that we witness is the maximum in the hundreds," Antonio Guterres said in an interview with Reuters Next in New York.

"We have in a few days in Gaza, thousands of children killed," he said.

Guterres stressed the need for a humanitarian cease-fire as well as allowing the release of hostages, and allowing for the "massive entrance" of aid into Gaza.

Stressing the need to distinguish between Hamas and Palestinians, Guterres said: "If we don't make that distinction, I think it's humanity itself that loses meaning."

Describing the situation in Gaza as "terrible" and "catastrophic," the UN chief noted that the entrance of fuel into Gaza has not yet been authorized, and water is "very limited" while there is a lack of medicine in hospitals.

"It's essential that the laws of war are respected," he said. "And one of the things we say to Israel clearly it is very important that the laws of war are fully respected."

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed.

The Israeli death toll nears 1,600, according to official figures.