Overview

• Foreign minister Winston Peters told the UN General Assembly that New Zealand will not recognize Palestinian statehood at this time, citing the ongoing war, Hamas’s control in Gaza and a risk to ceasefire diplomacy.
• The government reiterated support for a two-state solution and said recognition is a matter of when, not if, contingent on concrete steps such as stronger governance, legitimate institutions, the release of hostages and Hamas disarmament.
• New Zealand announced an extra NZ$10 million for humanitarian relief in Gaza, lifting its total contribution to NZ$47.5 million.
• The stance departs from recent moves by partners including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and France, which have recognized a Palestinian state.
• Opposition parties condemned the decision as damaging to New Zealand’s reputation, while the New Zealand Jewish Council IsraIsrael’s ambassador praised the cautious approach.