The New Zealand Government has donated $250,000 in aid money to help with relief work in Gaza and is likely to give more.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said on Friday the donation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency was made a few weeks ago and is in addition to the $1 million New Zealand donates to the agency each year.
Smoke rises from a building after an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Murray McCully talking to reporters on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Since Israel began its offensive on 8 July more than 1450 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, and the UN says up to a quarter of Gaza's population has been displaced by the fighting.
Mr McCully has condemned the violence and said more aid money may be needed.
"In light of the current situation, we are having a look at whether we make a further humanitarian contribution - not necessarily to them, because there are other agencies like the Red Cross that are active as well."
The minister welcomed the announcement of a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, set to begin on Friday. The deal was announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Mr McCully said the New Zealand Government has condemned the recent shelling of UN buildings, including schools, which are being used by thousands of Palestinian civilians as safe shelter.
He said he hoped the rhetoric of the announcement translates into action. "We've been disappointed in the past, but let's hope this is going to stick."
Mr McCully says both sides have fallen short of their obligations under international law to protect civilians in the latest conflict, and the Government is dismayed by what he calls the appalling and unacceptable civilian death toll.
The minister is also welcoming the announcement that Israeli and Palestinian delegations are heading to Cairo for negotiations under the auspices of the Egyptian government and says he hopes that will bring about a more durable ceasefire.
