Cambodia calls for ceasefire amid deadly border clashes with Thailand
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
A pagoda damaged by Thai artillery is pictured in Oddar Meanchey province on July 25. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned that cross-border clashes with Cambodia that have uprooted more than 130,000 people "could develop into war", as the countries traded deadly strikes for a second day. Photo / AFP
Cambodia wants an 'immediate ceasefire' with Thailand, the country's envoy to the United Nations said on Friday, after the neighbours traded deadly strikes for a second day, with Bangkok also signalling an openness to talks.
A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on Friday.
'Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,' said Phnom Penh's UN ambassador Chhea Keo after a closed meeting of the council attended by Cambodia and Thailand.
A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border on Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian – a 70-year-old man – had been killed and five more wounded.
More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities – 14 civilians and a soldier – with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Hezbollah chief rejects disarmament as pressure on Lebanon grows
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem in 2023. Photo: AFP / Anwar Amro Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem says that calls for the Iran-aligned militant group's disarmament served only Israel, as the United States ramps up pressure for steps to remove its arsenal. "Those who call for submitting arms practically demand submitting them to Israel ... We will not submit to Israel," Qassem said in a televised address. Hezbollah emerged badly damaged from a war with Israel last year that eliminated most of the group's leadership, killed thousands of its fighters and left tens of thousands of its supporters displaced from their destroyed homes. The US is now pushing Lebanon to issue a formal cabinet decision committing to disarm Hezbollah before talks can resume on a halt to Israeli military operations in the country, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Hezbollah has publicly refused to hand over its arsenal in full, but has privately weighed scaling it back. "Those who call for disarmament on a domestic, global or Arab level serve the Israeli project," Qassem said. He also said the US was demanding a removal of Hezbollah's missiles and drones because they "scare" Israel, accusing US special envoy Thomas Barrack of calling for disarmament for the sake of Israel and not Lebanon's own security. "Israel will not be able to defeat us and it will not be able to take Lebanon hostage," he added. In early July, Barrack met Lebanese officials in Beirut to discuss the disarmament proposal. It would see Hezbollah fully disarmed within four months in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops occupying several posts in south Lebanon and a halt to Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah has been under pressure in recent months both within Lebanon and from Washington to completely relinquish its weaponry. - Reuters
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
NZ Is Prepared To Take ‘Further Action' Over The Gaza Crisis – Here Are 5 Options
Is the tide turning over the crisis in Gaza? International pressure and condemnation of Israel's actions has been increasing, with news and images of malnourished and starving Palestinians now hard to avoid. This week, US President Donald Trump has acknowledged there is 'real starvation' happening, and instructed Israel to allow 'every ounce of food' into Gaza. And last week, the foreign ministers of 28 states – including New Zealand – issued a strongly worded Joint Statement on Humanitarian Situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, calling for an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' and condemning Israel's denial of essential humanitarian assistance. The statement marked an important shift in the international community's response. Countries in the Global South have been challenging Israel's actions since the start of the conflict, notably South Africa's genocide case before the International Court of Justice. But this is the first time a grouping of western and other liberal democracies has issued such a strongly worded condemnation of Israel's actions. (France, another signatory, has also now said it will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations.) Most importantly, the signatories conclude the statement by saying they 'are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region'. 5 options for further action So far, however, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest in halting his devastating military campaign. If the situation continues to worsen, the question becomes: what would 'further action' look like for New Zealand? Five options stand out. 1. Stop trade with Israel Despite the joint declaration's strong language, every signatory continues to trade with Israel. Companies profiting from activities in the occupied Palestinian territories have been specifically criticised by the United Nations Special Rapporteur. The requisite legislation could be put in place by parliament agreeing to support Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick's private members bill to 'sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine'. That bill draws on the existing Russia Sanctions Act passed in 2022 over the Ukraine war. 2. Change immigration rules New Zealand has already created a special visa category for Ukrainians and their families. The same could be done for Palestinians on the basis of family reunification. 3. Order an intelligence inquiry The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security can exercise his powers under the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 to open an inquiry into direct or indirect intelligence sharing with Israel, specifically through the Five Eyes network. Four of the five members of Five Eyes are signatories to the joint statement, but there is currently no way of knowing whether New Zealand's contribution is aiding Israel's military actions. Last year, a group of lawyers (of which I was one) called for such an inquiry to shed light on the situation, but the request was denied. 4. Withdraw from Operation Prosperity Guardian The government could withdraw from the US-led multinational coalition formed to counter Houthi attacks on maritime transport in the Red Sea. While the Yemeni rebel attacks on commercial shipping are illegal, they are also linked to the continuing international failure to stop the Gaza conflict. In this broader context, membership of the coalition can be seen as implicit support of Israel's actions. 5. Refer Netanyahu to the International Criminal Court Using starvation as a method of warfare is recognised as a war crime. Referring the Israeli prime minister to the International Criminal Court for prosecution would almost certainly attract the wrath of Israel and the US, which imposed sanctions on the court earlier this year. However, all signatories to the joint statement are members of the court, so a collective referral may provide some diplomatic cover. But there is no legal reason why New Zealand cannot refer the case on its own. A rules-based order All of these five possible actions are within New Zealand's sovereign rights to undertake, and fit within the country's support for a rules-based international order. The common belief that New Zealand is too small and relatively powerless to influence global events such as the disaster in Gaza is arguably self-fulfilling and an excuse for inaction. But New Zealand's nuclear-free policy stands as an example of how small nations can create change, with the political will to do so. Signing the joint statement on Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories opened the door to 'further action'. If and when such action is triggered, New Zealand's options are not insignificant.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Luxon says New Zealand won't adopt UK's stance on Palestinian statehood yet
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (L) speak during their bilateral meeting in April. Photo: AFP / Pool / Frank Augstein Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he will speak to his British counterpart about the United Kingdom's new stance on Palestinian statehood, but says New Zealand won't be following its lead "at this stage". "Not at this point," Luxon told reporters on Wednesday. "Obviously, I will be talking with Sir Keir Starmer around his position, which is a conditional statehood." Earlier, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September unless Israel agreed to key conditions, including a ceasefire in Gaza. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Starmer was rewarding Hamas's monstrous terrorism and punishing its victims. In response to questions from RNZ, Luxon said New Zealand had long supported the eventual recognition of Palestinian statehood, but that the immediate focus should be on getting aid into Gaza rather than "fragmenting and talking about all sorts of other things that are distractions". "We need to put the pressure on Israel to get humanitarian assistance unfettered, at scale, at volume, into Gaza," he told RNZ. "You can talk about a whole bunch of other things, but for right now, the world needs to focus." New Zealand signed a separate joint statement with 14 other countries overnight expressing a willingness to recognise the state of Palestine as a necessary step towards a two-state solution. Luxon said while there were "slight differences" between various countries' positions, all were distressed by the lack of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza. "We are a long way away," Luxon said. "We have very little influence, and we have very little trading connection with Israel in particular ... we have to send our messages and our concerns out in very unambiguous terms." During Parliament's Question Time on Wednesday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand steadfastly supported the establishment of a Palestinian state and the right of the Palestinian people to self determination. But he said the government first needed to see progress from Palestine, including representative governance, commitment to non-violence, and security guarantees for Israel. "If we are to recognise the state of Palestine, New Zealand wants to know that what we are recognising is a legitimate, representative, viable, political entity," Peters said. Peters also agreed with a contribution from ACT's Simon Court that recognising the state of Palestine before Hamas had returned hostages or laid down arms could constitute a "reward for acts of terrorism". "That's most likely how it'd be interpreted," Peters replied. Opposition parties have called on the government to move with more haste. On Wednesday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said it was time for New Zealand to act: "We shouldn't wait for other countries to embarrass us into doing it." And Green co-leader Marama Davidson questioned what the government was waiting for. "What more do they need to see?" she said. "What more suffering do they need to actually see with their own eyes [before] doing something committed or definite like recognising Palestinian statehood?" Peters said the opposition parties were being "absolutist" and "naive." "They've got no idea what they're talking about," Peters said. "We would recognise, if we had a group legitimately to recognise." Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during the next UNGA meeting. Norway, Spain, and Ireland did so last year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
