Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says Israel is well aware of New Zealand's response to the war in Gaza. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
New Zealand has joined 23 other countries calling out Israel and demanding a full supply of foreign aid be allowed into the territory.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says it's "intolerable" that Israel has blocked any aid reaching residents for many weeks.
UN Spokesperson Tom Fletcher said in an interview that “14,000 babies would be at risk of dying in Gaza within a 48-hour period due to starvation”. Since recording that interview, the claims have been clarified, with the statement being based on an IPC report that warned 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition were expected to occur between April 2025 and March 2026 among children aged between six months and five years.
The UK, France and Canada have expressed their frustration, with the UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy telling Parliament the war in Gaza has entered a "dark new phase" and the UK was cancelling trade talks with Israel.
Although the situation had come about because of acts of terrorism by Hamas, for residents in Gaza it had become "intolerable", Peters told Morning Report.
"We've had enough of this and we want the matter resolved and now."
A full resumption of aid should have happened a long time ago and it was essential that the United Nations be involved in delivering it.
"... we've just simply had enough of it, utterly so [from Israel]."
The statement by the countries reaffirmed what had been said for a long time that Israel must make aid available.
New Zealand also opposed Israel's latest expansion of military operations in Gaza, Peters said.
The Palestinian Authority and other countries such as Egypt and Indonesia understood New Zealand's position.
"We just want to sort this out and the long-term thing [Palestinians' future alongside Israel] has got to be resolved as well.
"Israel needs to get the message very clear - we are running out of patience and hearing excuses."
Asked if the Israeli ambassador should be called in so the message could be conveyed more clearly, he said it would be a symbolic gesture that would not help starving babies.
Israel already knew what this country's stance was, he said.
It was an appalling situation that had started with "unforgivable terrorism" but Israel had gone "far too far" in its response, Peters said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
