The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, sharply criticized Israel's renewed blockade of aid to Gaza as a violation of international law, stating that it has opened 'the floodgates of horror.' Guterres condemned the lack of aid entering Gaza, including food, fuel, and medicine, and called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under the Geneva Conventions. Israel's government rejected the criticisms, claiming that there is no shortage of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Guterres also expressed concern over the high death toll of children in Gaza and called for the immediate release of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas.