29/02/2024

New Zealand designates political wing of Hamas as terrorist organization, imposes travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers

WELLINGTON — On Thursday, New Zealand designated Hamas’s political wing as a terrorist organization and imposed travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers who have carried out violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

This decision follows attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October, which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon condemned unequivocally.

However, Luxon clarified that New Zealand’s designation of Hamas as a terrorist entity does not reflect negatively on the Palestinian people, distinguishing between the actions of the organization and the broader population. This move aligns with New Zealand’s previous stance, as it had designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist entity since 2010.

In addition to labeling Hamas, New Zealand has imposed travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers accused of violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. Luxon expressed concern over the escalation of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the context of an already volatile situation.

New Zealand reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and called for an urgent restart of the Middle East peace process. Despite its actions against Hamas, New Zealand maintains its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and offering consular support to its citizens in the conflict zone.