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NZ And Allies Condemn 'Inhumane', 'Horrifying' Killings In Gaza And 'Drip Feeding' Of Aid

RNZ Online

New Zealand has joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and criticising what they call the inhumane killing of Palestinians.

The Prime Minister said New Zealand was part of a joint statement calling on Israel to immediately end its war in Gaza because it's now an absolute "catastrophe".

Christopher Luxon said Israel was going too far, adding the Israeli food program was being "dribbled out".

The countries - including Britain, France, Canada and Australia - also condemned the Israeli government's aid delivery model in Gaza as "dangerous".

"We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food"

They said it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid, the majority at food distribution sites run by a US- and Israeli-backed foundation.

"We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively," it said.

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"Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a 'humanitarian city' are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law."

The statement said the countries were "prepared to take further action" to support an immediate ceasefire.

Reuters reported Israel's foreign ministry said the statement was "disconnected from reality" and it would send the wrong message to Hamas.

"The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation," the Israeli statement said.

Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters told Morning Report, New Zealand had chosen to be part of the statement as a way to have its voice heard on the "dire" humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"The tipping point was some time ago... it's gotten to the stage where we've just lost our patience..."

Peters said he wanted to see what the response to the condemnation was.

"The conflict in the Middle East goes on and on... It's gone from a situation where it was excusable, due to the October 7 conflict, to inexcusable as innocent people are being swept into it," he said.

"I do think there has to be change. It must happen now."

Luxon wanted the UN and other NGOs to be let in to ensure there was "unfettered access" to humanitarian assistance, "as there should be".

He also said the statement had raised the E1 settlement programme, "which essentially splits the occupied territories into two." Luxon said he didn't think that would set up conditions for what needs to happen, "which is a two state solution".

"That's why you've also seen us go very hard against extremist ministers calling for settlements which we think are illegal under international law.

"The ICJ made a pretty clear ruling, a provisional ruling, and we expect Israel to be bound and compliant with that."

Luxon said New Zealand can have more impact with its statements and words by joining with like minded friends, to "put more volume to those statements."

"We're calling it out and saying it's got to stop.

"It's gone to a new depth, and it's unacceptable.

"This has gone too far. This is an absolute catastrophe now."

Luxon said there could be further action if Israel doesn't take note, but wouldn't define what that is.

The statement also called for Hamas to release hostages "unconditionally and immediately" Luxon said.

Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said the statement was long overdue, but wanted to see what else the government could do.

"It's one thing to be clear on the rhetoric with respect to the delivery of aid and food, but actually let's call this out for what it is."

University of Otago Professor Robert Patman told Midday Report it was a "big deal" because most of the countries who signed on "constitute key members of what might be called 'the West', countries which most of whom are liberal democracies."

He said the statement He acknowledged the United States and Germany weren't on the list.

But Patman said it was quite clear the majority of liberal democracies, many of whom he said had remained "disgracefully quiet during much of this tragedy that's unfolded in Gaza since the Hamas attack", were now indicating "enough is enough".

Patman pointed out the statement also hinted at further action if the Israeli government doesn't respond.

He said Benjamin Netanyahu had made no secret he opposed a two-state solution, but "virtually all countries" who signed the statement are "adamant" there should be a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As to whether the United States would respond to the statement, Patman said he expected the Trump administration to criticise it.

But he said Trump would have to reconcile that 25 countries is a substantial number of entities, and the United States risked isolating themselves in its support for Israel.

"That is having consequences for the United States' global reputation."

The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than 2 million and spreading a hunger crisis.

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