According to UNICEF, more than 13.9 thousand Palestinian children have already been killed during the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip. The organization's secretary general, António Guterres, said at a UNSC meeting.

"The figures of losses are staggering and unprecedented in speed and scale during my tenure as secretary-general. According to UNICEF, more than 13,900 Palestinian children have reportedly been killed in intense, often indiscriminate strikes," said Guterres.

"Tens of thousands of people have been killed. Two million Palestinians have faced death, destruction and denial of humanitarian aid, now facing starvation. The Israeli operation in Rafah will exacerbate this humanitarian catastrophe," he stressed.

All this, he said, took place against the backdrop of severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, who are facing mass starvation.

"A cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip would significantly ease tensions throughout the region. I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip," Guterres said.