A Palestinian hurls a stone as others take cover during clashes with Israeli troops at a demonstration against Israel's military operation in Gaza. Photo / AP
The Government is continuing to take a reserved approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza and refuses to take sides.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said that while deeply disappointed with Israel's invasion, which has caused over 500 Palestinian deaths, it was "pointless" discussing whether it was overreaction.
"We've avoided getting into a fairly pointless argument about who's provoking who and what is a proportionate versus disproportionate response. It seems to me when so many people are getting killed or injured to be a rather futile argument."
A protest march in Wellington today will challenge the Government to take a stronger stance against Israel's invasion.
But Mr McCully said the emphasis had to remain on achieving a ceasefire.
While Australia had pledged an extra $6 million in aid for victims of the conflict, Mr McCully said his information was that it was not yet clear where that aid would go and New Zealand would instead wait and see once requests were made.
"The first requirement is to have an environment in which some of the problems are going to be addressed and we are heading in the wrong path to achieving that at the moment."
Mr McCully said "New Zealand always looks positively" on aid requests. Providing peacekeeping troops was also an option.
"We always have to go back and say what are our resources, what can we manage. But the short answer is we always try and help," he said.
Labour leader Phil Goff took a stronger line against Israel, saying the ground invasion was clearly an overreaction.
"The size and scale of the Israeli response is hugely disproportionate and the timing appears to have been motivated more by the impending election in Israel than Hamas attacks."
Mr Goff said the loss of innocent lives would only strengthen the position of extremist elements over the moderates, prolonging the conflict.
Green MP Keith Locke, who will speak at today's protest, said Mr McCully had to do more "than a general call on both sides to cease fire".
"While not absolving Hamas of blame, the focus should be on stopping the massive Israeli offensive which is killing so many innocent people."
