Wellington, New Zealand – Widespread discontent has escalated in New Zealand following Christopher Luxon’s government’s announcement that it will refuse to officially recognize a Palestinian state. This comes despite the support of more than 157 countries around the world, including Britain, Canada, Australia, and France. The decision sparked a storm of criticism from opposition parties and religious leaders. They described the stance as “shameful” and one that alienates the country from its traditional allies.
New Zealand cities witnessed loud protests. Catholic and Anglican clergy members chained themselves inside the Immigration Minister’s office in Auckland. Thousands of activists took to social media to denounce the decision.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark considered her country “unjustifiably lagging behind the international community.” She also emphasized that recognizing Palestine is now part of any serious process toward a political solution.
This comes as Israel continues its devastating war on Gaza. UN reports confirm that it has committed genocide, killing more than 66,000 people, most of them civilians. There are fears that Tel Aviv may annex the West Bank in response to the growing wave of international recognition of a Palestinian state.
