Auckland, April 9 -- New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

"Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel's military actions," Peters said in his speech to a UNGA debate on the Middle East. "Gaza, which was already facing huge challenges before this conflict, is now a wasteland."

Peters said the UN Security Council, due to the repeated use of the veto by permanent members, had not acted decisively on the matter. "This has seen the Council fail in its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," he said.

Peters called on Hamas to release all ...