News | Politics
19 Mar 2025 14:30
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Politics

    Fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza prompt alarm, calls for restraint from world leaders

    While the US has stated it supports Israel's next steps, European and Middle Eastern governments are warning the renewed strikes risk undermining regional stability.


    World leaders have called for an immediate halt to violence in Gaza after a series of Israeli strikes on the Palestinian enclave on Tuesday.

    The strikes killed more than 400 people, according to the Palestinian health authority.

    The move has threatened to collapse a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

    The US has indicated it supports Israel's actions, with the acting US ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea saying Washington would  back Israel in its next steps.

    Both Israeli and American officials have blamed Hamas for renewed strikes and accused the Islamist group of refusing to release more of the 59 hostages it holds in Gaza. 

    But European and Middle Eastern governments have expressed concern the escalation could undermine efforts to end the conflict, which has been raging since Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023.

    The British government called on Israel and Hamas to implement their ceasefire agreement for Gaza "in full", urging all parties to "return urgently to dialogue" to end fighting.

    "We want to see this ceasefire agreement re-established as soon as possible," said Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman, adding that reported civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight were "appalling".

    In a statement, the French Foreign Affairs department called for "an immediate end to hostilities". 

    "France condemns the Israeli strikes carried out since yesterday on the Gaza Strip, which have caused numerous civilian casualties," it said. 

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the new strikes risked diplomatic efforts to return hostages to Israel.

    "We are following with great concern the resumption of fighting in Gaza," she told the Italian senate.

    She said the move "jeopardises the objectives we are all working towards: the release of all hostages and a permanent end to hostility, as well as the restoration of full humanitarian assistance in the (Gaza) Strip."

    Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urged for countries to come together to compel Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire.

    Qatar has been a key player in negotiating and mediating ceasefire negotiations between the two sides.

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country also helped mediate the truce in the Israel-Hamas war, condemned the strikes, branding them a "flagrant violation" of the agreement.

    In a statement, his office said the strikes were part of "deliberate efforts to make the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and force the Palestinians into displacement".

    In another statement, Egypt's foreign ministry called the strikes a "dangerous escalation which threatens to bring serious consequences for the stability of the region".

    Concerns for humanitarian welfare of Palestinians

    With the backing of the United States, Israel had been pressing for the return of the remaining hostages in exchange for a truce until after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday in April.

    United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk said the renewed bombardment would "add tragedy to tragedy".

    "Israel's resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions," he said.

    [YOUTUBE: World reacts]

    Tahani Mustafa, a Senior Palestine Analyst with International Crisis Group said Israel's air strikes came as "no surprise", accusing Israel of conducting multiple violations of the ceasefire.

    She told ABC's The World the hostages would have been safer if phase two had been enacted.

    "It's really been these processes of humanitarian pauses and negotiations that has guaranteed their release," she said.

    Reuters/AFP


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other Politics News
     19 Mar: Fluoride will be added to Whangarei's water supply from today, with the possibility of stopping later - with the High Court still not reaching a decision on allowing a pause
     19 Mar: A push for more schools to take on bullying prevention programmes, which are proving to be effective
     18 Mar: Auckland's local boards are off the hook for now, on bearing the brunt of a multi-million-dollar deficit
     18 Mar: Fiscal services are being urged to reach out to younger generations struggling with money
     18 Mar: The Foreign Affairs Minister is sure New Zealand's concerns about Pacific aid have been heard in Washington DC
     18 Mar: Rwanda has moved people into model ‘green’ villages: is life better there?
     18 Mar: This week marks 20 years since the beginning of the Britomart precinct regeneration in Auckland's CBD
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Jorja Miller is ready to reacquaint herself with 15s in a bid to make the Black Ferns squad for the World Cup this year More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Global trade tensions and ongoing cost-of-living pressures have overshadowed the economic outlook More...



     Today's News

    National:
    ‘It’s not a vaccine, it’s a shot’: uncovering a new trend in vaccine scepticism 14:17

    Living & Travel:
    Arsenal's Matildas face Champions League battle after defeat on 'disgrace' of a pitch against Real Madrid 14:17

    Entertainment:
    Kat Dennings knew her real name "wasn't going to work" for her acting career when she was just nine years old 14:14

    International:
    Vladimir Putin agrees to halt energy plant strikes but rejects immediate ceasefire in call with Donald Trump 14:07

    Law and Order:
    A man's died in hospital today, while Police investigate a homicide in Hamilton's Melville 14:07

    International:
    Benjamin Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas and free all hostages after relaunching air strikes in Gaza 13:47

    International:
    Live updates: NASA SpaceX astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams praised for resilience after months in space 13:47

    Business:
    Global trade tensions and ongoing cost-of-living pressures have overshadowed the economic outlook 13:47

    Entertainment:
    Sarah Snook had a spooky encounter at a "haunted" theatre in London 13:44

    Rugby:
    Jorja Miller is ready to reacquaint herself with 15s in a bid to make the Black Ferns squad for the World Cup this year 13:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd