Winston Peters calls for Gaza ceasefire, citing suffering

Winston Peters, New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister, is urging a ceasefire in Gaza following intense airstrikes by Israel. These strikes occurred on Tuesday and resulted in the deaths of over 400 Palestinians, making it the deadliest attack in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli airstrikes were initiated because Hamas did not comply with demands to release half of the remaining hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited this as a reason for the attacks, which have raised alarm over the worsening situation. Peters expressed New Zealand's serious concern about the renewed violence. He called on both Israel and Hamas to return to a ceasefire and fulfill the agreement's terms. He emphasized the need for a permanent solution to stop the fighting. Peters added that New Zealand has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and efforts to lower regional tensions. He highlighted that finding a resolution is crucial to ending the severe human suffering that has persisted for the last year and a half.