‘We owe it to the Palestinians’ - Green Party

The Government and the Green Party have welcomed the provisional ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The Government sees the ceasefire as a vital first step, while the Greens are pushing for deeper engagement to address systemic injustices.

Although they welcome the agreement, Greens’ Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teanau Tuiono reiterated the party’s call for New Zealand to advocate for an end to the occupation of Palestine.

“We welcome the signs of a meaningful ceasefire, but there remains work to do to secure lasting peace,” Tuiono says.

“This is a victory for Palestinians and the wider solidarity movement who have long pushed for a ceasefire.

“However, it must be followed by efforts to establish justice and self-determination for Palestinians and bring an end to Israeli apartheid and the illegal occupation of Palestine.

“Aotearoa has a part to play here, and that is why the Green Party last year lodged a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Adopting this Bill would mean our country backs up its recent actions in supporting a UN resolution calling for ‘unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Teanau has over 20 years of experience as an activist, advocate, and organiser at local, national, and international levels. Photo/Ala Vailala

The Government’s message

Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters also welcomed the agreement.

“Over the past 15 months, this conflict has caused incomprehensible human suffering,” he said.

“We acknowledge the efforts of all those involved in the negotiations to bring an end to the misery, particularly the US, Qatar and Egypt,” Peters said in a press release.

He reiterated New Zealand’s commitment to supporting international efforts.

“The terms of the deal must now be implemented fully. Protection of civilians and the release of hostages must be at the forefront of the effort.

Peters and Israel's Ambassador to NZ, Ran Yaakoby, met last year. Photo/Winston Peters X

“There now needs to be a massive, rapid, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“To achieve a durable and lasting peace, we call on the parties to take meaningful steps towards a two-state solution. Political will is the key to ensuring history does not repeat itself.”

Background and humanitarian crisis

The ceasefire follows weeks of intense conflict that began on 7 October when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1400 people.

Israel’s subsequent airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza led to over 14,000 reported deaths, including thousands of children, and displaced more than a million people.

The violence has severely damaged Gaza’s infrastructure, leaving residents without reliable access to water, electricity, and healthcare.

People celebrate at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, as news spread that a ceasefire and hostage release deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory. Photo/AFP

‘We owe it to Palestinians’

While the Government and the Greens welcomed the ceasefire, their messages differ.

The Green Party has urged the Government to take further action.

“We must divest public funds from illegal settlements, recognise the State of Palestine, and join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, just as we joined Ukraine’s case against Russia,” Tuiono says.

“Furthermore, we should increase aid to Palestine and support the reconstruction of Gaza as determined by Palestinians.

“We owe it to Palestinians who for many years have lived under brutal and illegal occupation by Israeli forces and are now entrenched in a humanitarian crisis of horrific proportions.

“This means our country and others have work to do to rebuild trust in the international system that is meant to uphold human rights and prioritise peace."

Watch the Green Party's position on an ICJ ruling on Israel's 'illegal occupation' of Palestine.