Palestine welcomes New Zealand support at UN
Palestine has welcomed New Zealand’s new position on the Israel-Hamas war, with Kiwi leaders for the first time prepared to directly criticise Israel.
Last week, New Zealand voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution to support Palestine, which requested Israeli settlers and soldiers to leave occupied territories, for reparations and sanctions.
Israel had gone “far too far” in its defence in the near year-long war, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said.
“Of course (Israel has got) the right to defend themselves but there comes a time when you cannot maintain that argument when so many innocent people become the victims of your defence,” he told Radio NZ.
Around 42,000 Gazans including 16,000 children have been killed in Israel’s offensive on the Palestinian territory, according to local authorities.
Israel’s military action was sparked by an attack by Hamas militants on October 7 who killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Mr Peters said he believed Kiwis backed its UN vote, saying it was “what New Zealanders would want us to do”.
New Zealand’s supporting vote was in contrast to abstentions made by Australia and Canada – a trio of countries which had issued joint statements calling for a de-escalation of hostilities.
“New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters said.
Until this week, New Zealand had only indirectly chided Israel with statements like “Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community”, or requests to both sides to “exercise restraint”.
On Monday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon was asked directly whether he thought Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7 attacks had been disproportionate, saying “yes”.
Mr Luxon also said all three New Zealand government parties supported the UN General Assembly vote and Mr Peters’ commentary.
“The situation is shifting … it’s not the same situation it was 12 months ago, and so our position is, I think, a very clear minded and very sensible one,” he said.
“We’ve seen huge challenges in recent days and recent weeks, and a real risk of contagion throughout the region and that’s why we support that (UN resolution).”
Izzat Abdulhadi, Palestine’s Envoy to Australia and New Zealand, told AAP he was very much pleased by the Kiwi support.
“It’s not necessarily that they 100 per cent agree on the resolution but they want to support international law. This was a leadership position,” he said.
“What is significant is the minister indicated there is limitation for self defence, it’s not an absolute concept of Israel.”
It is far from the first time New Zealand has supported the Palestinian cause, including another piece of UN diplomacy.
In 2016, New Zealand moved United Nations Security Council resolution 2334, which confirmed Israel’s occupation of Palestine as illegal after a rare American rebuke.
The Barack Obama administration, which was preparing to hand over the White House to incoming president Donald Trump, chose not to veto the resolution, giving Palestine a historic win.
“This was a turning point for Palestinian rights and becomes the base for any forthcoming settlements between Israel and Palestine,” Mr Abdulhadi said.
“It was very courageous by New Zealand.
“(New Zealand) is most supportive of international law and less subjected to the pro-Israeli lobby, it’s not like in Australia.”
Mr Peters lands in New York on Tuesday (AEST) where he is likely to meet with Palestine Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa alongside UN engagements.
Mr Abdulhadi said Mr Mustafa would likely ask for support towards a ceasefire and removing blockages so aid can flow more easily through Gaza.
New Zealand supports both of those measures, but does not support another likely request: to immediately recognise Palestine as a state.
“If we want to save the two-state solution, it is the time now to recognise state of Palestine, especially that we don’t know what will happen in the American presidential elections,” Mr Abdulhadi said.
“If Trump comes, he will put more pressure on countries not to recognise state of Palestine.”
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