New Zealand has chosen not to formally recognise a Palestinian state “at this time”, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Friday, even as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza. The decision sets New Zealand apart from several partners, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which recognised Palestinian statehood last week.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Peters emphasised that New Zealand continues to support a two-state solution and the right of Palestinians to self-determination. However, he said that recognition under current circumstances could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire.
“With conflict ongoing, Hamas functioning as the de facto authority in Gaza, and uncertainty surrounding future developments, too many questions remain about the status of a Palestinian state for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time,” Mr Peters stated.
He added that a focus on recognition could risk hardening positions on both sides, potentially hindering ceasefire negotiations.
Prime Minister stresses neutrality
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, speaking in Auckland on Saturday, underlined that New Zealand was not taking sides in the conflict.
“New Zealand is neither pro-Palestine nor pro-Israel,” he said. “Our aim is for Israel and Palestine to exist as two states in peace and security, which can only be achieved through negotiation, dialogue, diplomacy, and leadership.”
New Zealand’s position contrasts with several of its traditional allies. Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom formally recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday, joining more than 140 UN member states that already do so. France followed suit on Monday.
International context and local reactions
While the expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood is largely symbolic, it comes amid renewed Israeli military action in Gaza and ongoing settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
The international consensus broadly holds that a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War remains the most viable path to resolving the long-standing conflict. The current escalation follows nearly two years after Hamas’s attack on 7 October, which reignited hostilities in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the UN, criticised Western recognition of Palestine, describing it as a message that “murdering Jews pays off”. He rejected the two-state solution as “madness” and warned that recognition could embolden Hamas.
Within New Zealand, the decision sparked criticism from the opposition. Labour leader Chris Hipkins called it “morally reprehensible” and a failure of leadership. Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said:
“New Zealanders will feel let down by the government. Recognition of Palestine is essential for any meaningful progress towards peace.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, however, defended the government’s approach, citing it as an example of New Zealand exercising independent judgment in foreign policy.
The New Zealand Jewish Council stated that recognition should follow tangible progress towards peace rather than serve as symbolic rhetoric, noting that premature recognition could be interpreted as a victory by Hamas.
