Israel going ‘too far’ in war on Gaza, warns New Zealand

ANKARA

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Friday said that Israel was going "too far" in the ongoing war on Gaza.

Flagging concern as the war nears one year, Peters said Tel Aviv "created misery for innocent people."

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, he also defended his country's support for Palestine resolution in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and said: "We have to do the best we can to try and see that this misery is over."

Responding to a question about Israel's right to self-defense, he said Israel has the right but "there comes a time when you cannot maintain that argument, when so many innocent people become the victims of your defense.

“We have consistently said that a two-state solution is the only durable and just solution for Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.

Meanwhile, Australia’s abstention from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution invited strong criticism as the Jewish Council Australia said it is disappointed at Australia’s UN abstention, and called for strong international action to prevent Israeli war crimes.

"Australia’s abstention does not align with its commitments to international law and peacebuilding. While the Australian government indicated support for many aspects of the resolution, its failure to vote in favor is a missed opportunity to show stronger, principled leadership," it said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution calling for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories within one year.

The resolution, introduced by the state of Palestine and supported by 124 countries, demands Israel's withdrawal from occupied lands, including East Jerusalem, as outlined in a July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack last Oct. 7.

Over the course of nearly a year, Israeli attacks have killed almost 41,300 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 95,500, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel also faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid