Israel-Hamas war: I hope New Zealand will recalculate its path, says Israeli Ambassador Ran Yaakoby

Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand Ran Yaakoby. Photo / YouTube screenshot

Israeli Ambassador Ran Yaakoby says he is open to speaking with the New Zealand Government about the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In his first interview since the attacks on Israel, Yaakoby has responded to comments by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark that Israel’s response was not proportionate.

He told RNZ’s Midday Report that Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks on October 7 was proportionate.

“Proportionality means that one has the right to prevent the danger,” he said.

“What is the danger, proportionally, of 8000 rockets being shot in the last two weeks over Israel? What is the reaction proportionally in the eyes of Helen Clark, or The Elders to what Israel has experienced on October 7th?

“I think one needs to be a bit more modest when it screams out international law, proportionality or humanitarian issues. One needs to know the reality on the ground on both sides, and one needs to relate also to the suffering of the Israelis. Now 9 million Israelis [are] in bomb shelters because of the rocket barrage of Hamas and Hezbollah.”

Ran Yaakoby advises any Gaza citizen who has nothing to do with terror groups "to leave the area because we are coming". Photo / YouTube screenshot

Yaakoby said Israel was not punishing an entire population and he questioned the sources for the number of deaths in Gaza.

“This is not a rugby game ... at war, we don’t look for proportionality in numbers, A.

“B, the case is definitely for Israel and its right to self-defence, and we act according to the international law.”

Israel had warned civilians in Gaza “in various ways” to move south of the enclave, he said, adding that aid trucks were also being allowed, thereby following international law.

“Hamas has bombed the Erez crossing on the Israeli side. The only way to enter now into Gaza is over tanks. The only way into Gaza is at the south, on the Rafah passage through Egypt and everything that is with good intent and is checked and is not intended [for] Hamas, but for the civil population invited to the south will be permitted as long as it is within the list of permitted items, which is food, medication, water.”

Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed houses after Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Photo / AP

Yaakoby said he had been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat), but said New Zealand’s caretaker Government had not been in contact with him.

“Unfortunately, none of the caretaker ministers have bothered to call the embassy, either in sympathy or to have a straightforward discussion.”

He welcomed the possibility of talks with the Government.

“I’m looking forward [to] the next Government that can also make decisions and I hope that New Zealand will recalculate its path.”

He said New Zealand had been criticising the situation, but it did not have an embassy in Israel - although it did have one in Tehran, Iran’s capital.

New Zealand has called for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza and for the creation of “designated safe areas that are strictly off limits as targets”.

To that, Yaakoby said: “There are humanitarian corridors to the south. There are regions that are recognised both by Egypt and Israel as humanitarian regions. This is beyond the Gaza Wadi or the Gaza River, and this is for the purpose of humanitarian relief.

“North of Gaza where Hamas is hiding, sheltering itself behind 220 or maybe more human shields, is not a safe zone. I will advise any citizen who has nothing to do with the terror organisations to leave the area because we are coming.”