National has clarified its position on a ceasefire in Gaza as the Green Party repeats its call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
It comes after Chris Hipkins yesterday called for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, speaking in his capacity as Labour Party leader.
National's Gerry Brownlee and the Green Party's Golriz Ghahraman joined Breakfast to discuss the conflict. The two foreign affairs spokespeople struck different notes in response to Hipkins' announcement.
Brownlee echoed a National statement from yesterday, saying his party asked for MFAT advice after the caretaker government approached National about calling for a ceasefire on Friday. He said National wanted to move in "lock step" with Australia and Canada.
He told Breakfast that National "of course" wanted a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.
"But recognising that there are steps that need to be taken to get there," he said. "We want to support that process to get a good outcome for the appalling situation that's on the ground in Gaza.
"We think the various conditions that need to be met by both parties here — both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force — need to be recognised and worked through.
"One of the problems you've got of course is that Hamas is a terrorist organisation, so, who are you negotiating with I guess is a bit of a problem," he added. New Zealand has designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Brownlee noted reports that a five-day ceasefire deal might be possible soon.
Francesca Albanese, who monitors human rights in the occupied territories, says she will deliver that message to parliamentarians when she meets them tomorrow. (Source: 1News)
"We would certainly welcome that," he said. "The outcome everyone wants is to have a complete end to these hostilities."
The key condition that needs to be met would be the release of hostages taken from Israel into Gaza by Hamas, Brownlee said.
"And [Hamas must] stop using the population of Gaza as some kind of human shield," he said. "The whole situation is utterly appalling.
"There needs to be recognition that the terrorist organisation that attacked Israel in the first place is now using the people of Gaza to further their own ends," he said. "The saddest thing is that a lot of people are dying while all this is going on."
Green Party wants Govt to call for immediate ceasefire
Ghahraman said the Green Party "remains disappointed" in both Labour and National.
She said there had been an "incredible" delay in calling for a ceasefire. The Greens had already called for an immediate ceasefire.
"I don't think either of them have truly called for a ceasefire in the way that the Red Cross, the secretary-general of the UN or the Green Party has called for a ceasefire. They still sort of seem to be under the impression that you can hold the population of Gaza hostage in response to a terror attack by Hamas."
Ghahraman said the people on the ground needed to be at the centre of the conversation — and New Zealand has a "very special" position that it can lead from, she added, pointing to our membership of groups such as Five Eyes.
"It is incumbent upon us to lead rather than wait around for the Biden administration [in the US].
"We do need someone to take leadership here and do it as the government.
"Right now, what we need to do is to stand for peace and call for ceasefire," she said. "This is collective punishment.
"We need to use every lever we can in our international forums to call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire."
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