New Zealand has issued its most strident criticism of Israel since the October 2023 attacks, with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters saying it had gone "far too far" retaliating against Hamas.
New Zealand broke with ally Australia and other like-minded nations to vote this week in favour of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution ordering Israel out of occupied Palestine within a year.
The resolution called for governments to levy sanctions against Israel, for Israel to pay reparations to Palestine, and for illegal Israeli settlers to leave the West Bank in line with agreed 1967 borders.
Israel has engaged in a war with Hamas and other non-state actors in the Middle East since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing about 1200 civilians.
Israel's response has been brutal: more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in its drive to eradicate Hamas from Gaza, including at least 17,000 children. Much of Gaza lies in ruins.
Mr Peters told Radio NZ that after almost a year of war, he believed enough was enough, and Kiwis did too.
"We decided we would do what New Zealanders would want us to do ... and make a statement," he said.
"No matter what the justification for this disaster and tragedy is, it has to end and we have to do the best we can to try and see that this misery is over.
"Of course (Israel has got) the right to defend themselves but there comes a time when you cannot maintain that argument when so many innocent people become the victims of your defence.
"We are saying (Israel's) gone far too far now in the pursuit of their defence, in the misery they have created for innocent people."
While New Zealand joined with 123 other nations to support the motion, Australia abstained, as did the United Kingdom and Canada. The United States and Fiji were among those against.
The non-binding resolution passed with 124 votes in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions.
NZ had joined with Australia and Canada to issue joint statements on the Israel-Hamas war, but Mr Peters' position pushes Wellington beyond the positions held in Canberra and Ottawa.
New Zealand Jewish Council President Juliet Moses said she was "dismayed" by the vote at the UN.
"New Zealand’s naïve vote is an embarrassment," she said.
"If Mr Peters has a suggestion as to how to stop Hamas - which does not believe in elections or negotiations or peace, it would be good to hear it - but what can be said with certainty is that the resolution will not do so."
While the UNGA resolution did not mention Hamas, Mr Peters said New Zealand's criticism of Israel should not be seen as support for the group which governs Gaza.
"The source of Palestine's misery is those people who came in one day who murdered 1200 people and stole over 100 hostages, took them to their country and are now using them as bargaining chips," he said.
Overnight, former NZ prime minister Helen Clark also addressed the UN, speaking to the Security Council on behalf of The Elders, a group of prominent former leaders.
Ms Clark welcomed the UNGA vote, condemned both Hamas, and Israel's "disproportionate" response, while calling for recognition of a Palestinian state.
Mr Peters said New Zealand would not formally recognise Palestine until after Hamas was removed from power.
The veteran diplomat will represent NZ next week at the UN, when he is likely to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
