REACTION: Oxfam urges New Zealand to oppose Middle East escalation and push for civilian protection.

Oxfam Aotearoa is deeply concerned by the escalation of military conflict across the Middle East and wider region. Oxfam calls on the New Zealand Government to take a firm stand in support of peace and International Humanitarian Law, pressing all parties to protect civilians and return to diplomatic negotiations.

As Oxfam America President Abby Maxman states:

“The United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran fall outside the narrow bounds of lawful self- defense, undermining the very rules-based order these governments claim to defend.

And the silence of many Western leaders in the face of these initial strikes is deeply alarming. Moments like this demand moral courage, not political calculation.”

Our humanitarian workers across the region are responding to urgent humanitarian needs wherever access is possible and until funds are available, in close coordination with our partners. However, humanitarian assistance alone cannot keep pace with the scale and speed of suffering generated by ongoing hostilities. Aid cannot substitute for political solutions. 

For this reason, Oxfam has joined a statement by 14 humanitarian organisations working in the region, calling for an immediate end to the military violence, protection of civilian populations, and a return to diplomatic talks with the goal of a lasting peace.

Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director Jason Myers has expressed solidarity with all communities affected by the conflict and called on the New Zealand Government to take a clear stance against military escalation:

“New Zealand has long stood for diplomacy, international law, and the protection of civilians. Our government must take a clear and principled stance against further military escalation in the Middle East, advocating for de-escalation, humanitarian protection, and a genuine path to peace”.