Our Deputy PM Winston Peters spoke at the UN this week, declaring the situation in Gaza an “utter catastrophe”. He’s right. But in joining the pile-on of international pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire he is simply helping to prolong the agony.

Whilst the world continues to spend most of its time berating Israel, Hamas has no incentive to come to the negotiating table. Why would it? It can sit back and wait until Israel is forced into a unilateral ceasefire. Why make concessions or take any reasonable negotiating position if the other party is being forced to your terms by the international community?

Hamas cares little about the suffering of the civilians it uses as human shields. If they did, a ceasefire would have happened long ago. Indeed the war would never have happened. All they care about now is their own survival. And if they can get a ceasefire with hostages still “in the bank”, they have a ticket to that survival.

The constant demands for Israel to not enter Rafah, to reduce civilian deaths, to provide humanitarian aid, to implement a ceasefire – all of it plays directly into the hands of Hamas. And in so doing, it prolongs the catastrophe. It also facilitates the continuation of a genocidal terrorist organisation.

Even more ridiculous are calls from outsiders for new elections in Israel. An election campaign right now in Israel would guarantee one thing only – no ceasefire and no release of hostages. With the Israelis distracted by a bitter and divisive campaign, why would Hamas do anything other than wait for the possibility of a more pliable leadership in Jerusalem? It would be the surest way to prolong the fighting.

Yes Gaza is a catastrophe. But ending it requires a complete reversal of current diplomatic settings. Instead of constant criticism of Israel, the international community needs to bring relentless pressure to bear on Hamas and its supporters Iran and Qatar. There should be unceasing demands for the immediate release of all hostages, and the unconditional surrender of all Hamas fighters. Surrender or face the consequences of your actions. That should be the single unified message from every country that upholds the value of human life. The unspeakable barbarity of the October 7^th massacre demands no less.

And instead of pointless ongoing demands for a ceasefire the UN should be taking practical action to make such a ceasefire more likely. Implement robust sanctions against Iran and Qatar for harbouring the Hamas leadership and funding their brutality. Freeze the foreign assets of Qatari elites who share caviar with terrorists in Doha. And shut down UNRWA, the agency which has provided cover for Hamas and helped propagate its homicidal ideology among Palestinian children.

Only when Hamas understands that they have nothing to gain from prolonging the Gaza catastrophe will it end. And until New Zealand and so many other nations realise that, we will continue to be part of the problem.

Ewen McQueen
April 2024