Marcos, Luxon on Israel-Iran conflict: Exercise maximum restraint
President Marcos and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed "serious concern" on Iran's recent strikes on Israel, urging maximum restraint on all sides.

"The leaders also shared the international community’s serious concerns about broader regional escalation in the Middle East, particularly Iran’s recent strikes on Israel, and urged maximum restraint on all sides," Marcos and Luxon said in their joint statement after their bilateral meeting on Thursday, April 18.
This as both officials exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situations in Israel, Palestine, Taiwan Strait, Myanmar, and Ukraine.
"Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos expressed serious concern on the dire humanitarian situation and tragic loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian life following the 7 October terrorist attacks," the statement read.
Luxon also offered his condolences for the Filipino migrant workers that lost their lives, and expressed sympathy for those that remain captive.
Both leaders reaffirmed their calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow urgent delivery of aid and called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and adherence to international law, including international humanitarian law.
They also expressed serious concern at Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, noting that "it was a clear violation of the principles of the UN Charter."
They reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, recalling the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, which reaffirms the principle that all States shall settle their disputes through peaceful means.
On the situation in Myanmar, Marcos and Luxon called on the military regime to immediately cease violence, release those arbitrarily detained, provide full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and create space for meaningful and inclusive dialogue.
They also encouraged the international community to work together in a pragmatic and constructive way to support an end to the violence in Myanmar.