NZ urges Kiwis to flee ‘arc of danger’ as Israel-Iran conflict escalates
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has issued a stark warning to Kiwis in Israel and Iran, urging them to evacuate the “arc of danger” as the conflict between the two nations intensifies.
Winston Peters
“This is a very potentially dangerous circumstance, and if you can possibly be removed from this arc of danger, then get out of there,” Peters said at a media briefing in Wellington. He confirmed that approximately 80 New Zealanders are in Israel and another 50 in Iran.
Peters acknowledged the limits of government support in a fast-moving conflict: “To say that you’re confident in the safety in a situation of exploding escalation in a war-like fashion would be absolutely premature, but we hope we’ve done the best to keep them secure.”
A Global Crisis
Peters compared current global tensions to the Cuban Missile Crisis, saying: “In my lifetime, I’ve never seen such an uncertain geostrategic circumstance as we’ve got now.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon echoed the urgency, calling the situation “potentially catastrophic” and warning that “the risk of miscalculation is high.”
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Defence Force are working continuously to assist personnel and nationals in the region. Officials are urging those in affected areas to leave while commercial routes remain open.
Sanctions and Diplomacy
Peters also defended New Zealand’s recent travel bans on Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, stating they had “used their leadership positions to actively undermine peace and security and remove prospects for a two-state solution.”
He added: “New Zealand is a long-standing supporter of the two-state solution. Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have severely and deliberately undermined that by personally advocating for the annexation of Palestinian land and the expansion of illegal settlements, while inciting violence and forced displacement.”
While not involved in any military action, Peters said New Zealand had been aware of “talk” about a possible Israeli strike but had not been party to direct discussions.
In summary: New Zealand’s government is calling on its citizens to evacuate Israel and Iran, warning of an unprecedented security crisis. The country maintains its diplomatic pressure on Israeli extremists while calling for regional de-escalation and global stability.
