New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu “lost the conspiracy,” and that Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza was “not quite acceptable.”
Luxon’s comments are considering whether his conservative coalition government will join the 5 Yees Security Alliance, other members of Australia, the UK and Canada to move in to recognize the Palestinian state. And international condemnation and anger make the decision to expand the war over Israel’s recent decision, which will expand the city of Gaza, aid and the massive hunger run.
Luxon, who leads the right-footed Kuomintang, said Netanyahu “has not heard” the international community’s demand for “free” humanitarian assistance to be delivered to Gaza.
“I think Netanyahu went too far. I think he lost the plot. And I think that watching overnight in the attack on Gaza City is some of his strongest comments on Israeli actions in Gaza, and I think it’s completely unacceptable.
Netanhayu’s office has not yet responded to Luxon’s comments.
Israel continues its fierce air attacks on Gaza this week, with Netanyahu’s planned military takeover of Gaza City being widely criticized, as it is expected to force up to a million people to leave the city.
“We have said that the forced displacement of people and annexation of Gaza would be a violation of international law,” Luxon said.
The chaotic scene continues to emerge from Gaza, as violence and hunger grow deeper amidst the strict control of Israeli territory aid. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 227 people (including 103 children) have died of malnutrition since the start of the war.
Foreign ministers of dozens of countries on Tuesday jointly said the suffering is “unimaginable levels” and “hunger is unfolding right in front of our eyes” as Israel demands that they allow more assistance to Gaza and allow humanitarian organisations to operate there.
Luxon is not the only Western leader who has recently openly criticised Israel’s prime minister. On Tuesday, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said he discovered that he had told Netanyahu but was “denial” about the human costs of the war in Gaza.
“He (Netanyahu) has repeatedly said to me that he has said publicly, and that is to deny the consequences that are happening for innocent people,” Albanese told Australia’s public broadcaster ABC.
Earlier this week, Australia announced at the United National General Assembly in September it would move to recognize the Palestinian state, and New Zealand left it as the sole member of five Eyes Security Alliances except the United States, in order to vow to do so. French President Emmanuel Macron also said France would recognize the Palestinian state in an announcement to the UN General Assembly in September.
“The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and save civilians,” Macron said in a July statement, repeating an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population, the release of all hostages and Hamas’ call for non-printing.
Washington has found himself increasingly at odds with his major Western allies over Israel about how the war in Gaza is taking place. Israel and the United States have condemned the move to recognize the Palestinian state.
Luxon announced Monday that, considering New Zealand’s position to recognize the Palestinian state next month, urged fierce criticism at home about what is seen as a lack of action against Israel.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark, who continued to lead the UN development program after retracting domestic politics, accused Laxon’s coalition government of not moving quickly enough on Tuesday.
“We don’t seem to be doing anything now except for what you know. We somehow want to save our own skin in the tariff war,” she told New Zealand’s public broadcaster RNZ on Tuesday. “I think it’s a really humiliating position for New Zealand to come in.”
On Wednesday, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was kicked out of Congress after he refused to apologise for coalition lawmakers for apologizing for comments that proposed to support a bill to raise their spine and sanction Israel.
“If we find six of the 68 government lawmakers (members of the council) who have a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” Swarbrick said Tuesday.
