NZ Foreign Minister condemns Hamas, reaffirms two-state support, and decries civilian suffering on all sides
In a wide-ranging ministerial statement to the New Zealand Parliament, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reiterated the country’s support for a negotiated two-state solution and condemned the escalating humanitarian toll in Gaza, while not shying away from condemning Hamas for its role in the crisis.
Winston Peters Pic: Wikipedia
Peters acknowledged the ongoing trauma experienced by Israeli families following the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, calling it a “tragedy of deep moral consequence.” He reinforced New Zealand’s position that hostage-taking is unacceptable under any circumstances and stated clearly: “We want to see all hostages released unconditionally.”
At the same time, Peters expressed deep concern over the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He described the humanitarian situation as dire, with “far too many civilian deaths” and the basic needs of the population unmet. “That is immoral,” he said. Yet, he stopped short of politicised accusations of war crimes or genocide, instead calling for “a negotiated ceasefire” — the only viable path forward in his view.
New Zealand has joined 27 other countries in a coordinated diplomatic call for an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and adherence to international law by all parties. This includes a halt to Israeli settlement expansion and any unilateral moves that would undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Peters emphasized that New Zealand seeks to be “an honest broker” in international diplomacy, acknowledging the country’s limited influence but reinforcing its consistent advocacy for “dialogue, de-escalation, and diplomacy.” He laid out a series of clear policy markers:
- In favour of: a two-state solution, de-escalation, humanitarian access, peaceful coexistence, and the rule of law.
- Opposed to: Hamas’s hostage-taking and terrorism, a nuclear-armed Iran, illegal settlements, civilian suffering, and further military escalation.
The Minister also confirmed ongoing government efforts to assist New Zealand citizens in the region, including evacuation flights and round-the-clock consular services.
Notably, Peters’s statement reflects a continued balancing act — upholding humanitarian principles without indulging in the simplistic, one-sided condemnations increasingly seen in parts of New Zealand’s public discourse.
While firmly supportive of Palestinian self-determination, Peters was careful not to excuse Hamas’s actions or to delegitimise Israel’s right to defend itself. In doing so, he marked out a rare middle ground — calling for restraint and responsibility from all parties and urging a return to negotiations.
People should look up the NZ parliament Hansard coving the short debate that followed Winston’s statement read to the house. The Opposition statements were followed by interesting questions and good answers from Minister Peter. He effectively put down the hostile questions that came from The Greens and the Maori parties.