New Zealand is "carefully" considering recognition of a Palestinian state, the country's Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Monday.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's cabinet will make a formal decision in September and present the government's approach at the UN Leaders' Week.
Peters said that while some of New Zealand's close partners such as Australia, Britain and Canada have opted to recognize a Palestinian state in September's UN General Assembly, New Zealand has an independent foreign policy.
"We intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealand’s principles, values and national interest," Peters said in an official statement.
He added that New Zealand's recognition of a Palestinian state has long been a matter of "when, not if,” but that his country needs to ascertain whether the prerequisites for a "viable and legitimate Palestinian state" exist.
No recognition without a viable Palestinian state
New Zealand's long-standing position has been one of support for a two-state solution, with secure and recognised borders for both Israel and Palestine based on 1967 lines. This would include the whole of the West Bank, east Jerusalem (to become the capital), the Golan Heights and Gaza.
Peters noted that, in the meantime, his country is an "active participant" in discussions about how to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and how to establish a peaceful two-state solution.
Addressing the matter in a post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Luxon was asked whether he was "going to reward Hamas by recognizing Palestine."
He responded that it is a very "serious and complex issue," that his government is going to "weigh up our position over the next month," but did not elaborate his response further.
There are three parties in New Zealand's ruling coalition, and all three will have to come to a unified position in order for any state to be recognized. Luxon however said he is "confident" that such a unified position can be reached.
Interestingly, Luxon avoided a press question over whether Hamas would need to release the hostages before New Zealand recognizes a Palestinian State, simply responding "there's no role for Hamas in any future Palestinian state."
He condemned Hamas strongly, saying "Hamas started this on October 7 with 1,200 Jewish folk, innocent civilians, killed and hostages that have been held over a long period of time. They need to release the hostages. It's as simple as that. They're a terrorist organization and they need to release hostages immediately."
However, when asked by a member of the press whether Palestinian state recognition would be conditional on Hamas releasing the hostages first, Prime Minister Luxon avoided answering.
He also declined to speak on what a future state would look like, saying the specifics would be ironed out in governmental discussions. The only information he provided was that "since partition in 1947, New Zealand has "strongly supported a separate Palestine, a separate Israel, living peacefully together."
There was an indication from his response that New Zealand felt the need to express intent to recognize a Palestinian state in light of similar moves by the UK, France and Australia. Luxon confirmed he had spoken to President Macron, Prime Minister Starmer, and Prime Minister Albanese about their expressions of intent, adding "as a result, it's important for us to weigh up our position as a government and that's the work that we'll do over the next few years."
Luxon said he was not concerned that the move may receive a negative response from the United States as New Zealand "has an independent foreign policy and we'll make our own decisions that are right for New Zealand and consistent with our values."
Speaking on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Luxon said it was a "catastrophe" and that the suffering needs to be stopped.
"We think Israel is wrong," he said. "It certainly aggravates the humanitarian situation and their plans and proposals risk violating international law."
Luxon said he did not believe that New Zealand communicated its intentions to Israel prior to the announcement on Monday.
The co-leader of the Maori Party (Te Pāti Māori) Debbie Ngarewa-Packer called the announcement "moral cowardice."
“Recognition cannot wait, and it must be accompanied with action. Without sanctions, without consequences, and with no intention of holding Israel accountable for genocide, the recognition of statehood is hollow” Ngarewa-Packer.
Te Pāti Māori's other co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, condemned Luxon for calling it a "complex issue" saying "There is nothing complex about genocide. There is nothing complex about apartheid. The longer Luxon hides behind ‘complexity’, the more tamariki [children] are buried.”
The Maori Party has repeatedly called for immediate and full recognition of a Palestinian state, an embargo on all trade in-and-out of Israel, and the cutting of all diplomatic ties with Israel. It has also demanded the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
About 75% of UN member states recognize a Palestine state.
It is worth noting that New Zealand does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state, adhering to the "One China" policy, which recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China instead.