New Zealand says no to Hamas and extremist Israeli settlers
In one day, New Zealand has banned entry to Israeli settlers who have committed violent attacks and have proscribed Hamas as a terrorist entity in its entirety.
Chris Luxon
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters jointly announced the decision regarding Hamas.
The military wing of Hamas was first designated in October 2010. This designation was renewed in 2013, 2016, 2019, and most recently, 2022.
Christopher Luxon said: “The terrorist attacks by Hamas in October 2023 were brutal and we have unequivocally condemned them,”.
Winston Peters said: “But what happened on 7 October reinforces we can no longer distinguish between the military and political wings of Hamas. The organisation as a whole bears responsibility for these horrific terrorist attacks.”
A designation under New Zealand legislation freezes any assets of the terrorist entity in New Zealand. It also makes it a criminal offence to carry out property or financial transactions with them or provide material support.
“New Zealand wants to be clear that the designation of Hamas is about the actions of an offshore terrorist entity and is not a reflection on the Palestinian people in Gaza and around the world,” Mr Luxon says.
“This designation targets Hamas, not the provision of private humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians. Similarly, the designation does not stop New Zealand providing humanitarian and future development assistance to benefit civilians in Gaza, nor does it stop us providing consular support to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents in the conflict zone.”
Mr Peters says, “We remain gravely concerned about the impact of this conflict on civilians and will continue to call for an end to the violence and an urgent resumption of the Middle East Peace Process.
Winston Peters
A lasting solution to the conflict will only be achieved by peaceful means.”
New Zealand has also announced travel bans on a number of extremist Israeli settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
“New Zealand is seriously concerned by the significant increase in extremist violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian populations in recent months. This is particularly destabilising in what is already a major crisis,” Mr Luxon says.
“New Zealand has taken this step to signal clearly that this behaviour is unacceptable”, Mr Peters says.
“We are imposing travel bans on a number of people known to have committed violent acts. These individuals will not be able to travel to New Zealand.
Individuals responsible for perpetrating acts of violence are undermining peace, security and stability in this region.
New Zealand’s consistent position has been that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a violation of international law.
Settlements undermine the prospects for a viable two-state solution. Recent statements by some Israeli ministers about plans for further settlement construction are of serious concern and will raise tensions further between Israelis and Palestinians.
The international community is overwhelmingly in favour of a future Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
Winston Peters said New Zealand will continue to advocate for an end to the current conflict and an urgent restart of the Middle East peace process.
