Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says a ceasefire in Gaza can only happen when both sides meet conditions, while Labour's trade spokesperson contended Israel is carrying out "nothing more than a genocide".
It comes as new Foreign Minister Winston Peters spoke to a motion in Parliament calling on "all parties involved in the conflict — as well as countries with influence in the region — to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire".
Peters' motion, which passed unanimously with a single amendment, is a shift in the Government's official position on a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
However, Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori are calling for the Government to go further in strengthening its language for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire".
But some feel we still need to be taking a stronger line, Benedict Collins reports. (Source: 1News)
In the motion, Parliament expressed "grave concern about the ongoing violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories" and to "unequivocally condemn the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 and call for the release of all hostages".
The motion recognised "Israel's right to defend itself, acting in accordance with international law, and that all civilians be protected from armed conflict".
Additionally, it would "affirm that a lasting solution to the conflict will only be achieved by peaceful means, and that action to revive the Middle East peace process is critical".
Labour MP Phil Twyford's successful amendment to the motion added language that called "for the establishment of a free and independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution" in any peace process.
'Nothing more than a genocide' - Labour's stance
In response to Peters' motion, Labour MP Damien O'Connor moved that the motion be amended to call for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza".
He then gave a charging speech, calling the situation on the ground "a genocide".
"The situation in Gaza is absolutely appalling. No person with any ounce of moral courage can see this as anything but horrific," he said.
"Nothing more than a genocide, and I call upon Israel — a nation that has been set up and seeks sympathy and support because of the Holocaust and the outrageous outcomes. I call on that nation to look at itself and apply the same humanity to the people of Palestine."
He said the images and videos coming out of Gaza "brings tears to my eyes".
"It drives me to rage to think what we can do as human beings to one another. We were appalled by what happened in the 1940s — the Holocaust. How then can a nation impose that upon another race of people?"
O'Connor continued: "We have as a nation supported a two-state solution. We'll continue to do that. We must respect the rights of the people of Israel and the people of Palestine. But bombing and killing and slaughtering women and children, who have nothing to do with this other than to have been born as a Palestinian.
"That is outrageous."
He said New Zealand had been "slow" in calling for a ceasefire.
Luxon says ceasefire must come with conditions
During Question Time in Parliament, Luxon was pressed by Opposition leader Chris Hipkins about why the Government didn't go further in its ceasefire stance.
"I am absolutely appalled by the human tragedy that has unfolded in Israel and Gaza since the seventh of October," the prime minister said.
The PM added: "We would all like to see a sustainable ceasefire, but it actually requires all parties to actually make the conditions to make that happen.
"For that to happen... Hamas needs to actually cease its attacks on Israel, it needs to stop exploiting civilian infrastructure, using civilians as shields, and it needs to locate and release all the remaining hostages.
"On the other hand, we actually need to see Israel respecting the laws of humanitarian law and war. We need to make sure that they're actually ensuring that innocent civilians are being protected. They need to make sure that civilians have access to food, fuel, resources, and medical supplies.
"We also need to make sure that the loss of life that we saw in the north doesn't take place in the south. There are responsibilities on both sides of this equation.
"There are responsibilities on both parties to make sure we get an enduring and sustainable ceasefire."
Hipkins called for a ceasefire last month, while still prime minister. He said his stance represented Labour's views and not the government's.
At the time, a spokesperson for National said the party "supports the goal of a ceasefire, but acknowledges the conditions have not existed for one so far".
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