Tracey Wilson By Tracey Wilson | NZB News
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has delivered his strongest criticism yet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring he has “lost the plot” and condemning Israel’s planned military takeover of Gaza City as “utterly, utterly unacceptable.” The remarkably blunt assessment from New Zealand’s conservative leader has triggered a diplomatic spat and highlighted the country’s evolving position on the Middle East conflict.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Luxon did not mince words about Netanyahu’s leadership amid Israel’s continuing military operations in Gaza. “I think Netanyahu has gone too far. I think he has lost the plot. And I think what we are seeing overnight with the attack on Gaza City is utterly, utterly unacceptable,” he said, marking some of his strongest comments against Israel’s actions in Gaza to date.
The Prime Minister’s criticism comes as international condemnation mounts over Israel’s recent decision to expand its war to take control of Gaza City, an operation expected to force up to a million people to leave the area. Luxon emphasised that Israel had consistently ignored international pleas for humanitarian aid to be delivered “unfettered” and that the situation was driving more human catastrophe across Gaza.
Israeli Response and International Context
The diplomatic fallout was swift. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel fired back on social media platform X with a dismissive response that many have characterised as demeaning to New Zealand. “I guess when you don’t really need an army because your most deadly enemy is a possum or a cat, you wouldn’t comprehend the challenges that come with facing Hamas,” Haskel posted, referring to Hamas as “a jihadist death cult.”
Luxon responded to the Israeli minister’s broadside with measured diplomatic language, saying “they’re entitled to their view, we’re entitled to ours.” However, the exchange underscores the growing strain in diplomatic relations as New Zealand grapples with its position on recognising Palestinian statehood.
The comments place New Zealand alongside other Western leaders who have recently criticised Netanyahu’s approach. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he found Netanyahu to be “in denial” about the human cost of the war in Gaza, whilst French President Emmanuel Macron has announced France will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Five Eyes Alliance Divergence
Luxon’s remarks come as his conservative coalition government weighs whether to join other members of the Five Eyes security alliance—Australia, Britain and Canada—in moving to recognise a Palestinian state. The decision has created a notable split within the traditionally aligned intelligence-sharing partnership, with New Zealand and the United States being the only members not to pledge recognition.
Earlier this week, Australia announced it would move to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, leaving New Zealand in an increasingly isolated position among its traditional allies. This diplomatic positioning has drawn sharp criticism from former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who lambasted Luxon’s coalition government for not moving quickly enough.
“We now really seem to stand for nothing except you know, somehow wanting to save our own skin in a tariff war,” Clark told New Zealand’s public broadcaster RNZ. “I think it’s really quite a humiliating position for New Zealand to be in.”
Domestic Political Tensions
The Gaza conflict has created significant tensions within New Zealand’s Parliament. On Wednesday, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was kicked out of Parliament for refusing to apologise for comments suggesting coalition lawmakers needed to “grow a spine” and support a bill to sanction Israel. “If we find six of 68 government MPs (members of Parliament) with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” Swarbrick had said on Tuesday.
The incident reflects broader frustration among opposition politicians and civil society groups who believe New Zealand should take a stronger stance against Israel’s military operations. Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has called the war an “unfolding genocide,” echoing comments made by former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian territory this week.
Within Luxon’s own coalition, there have been mixed responses to his strong language. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Foreign Minister Chris Bishop have broadly supported the criticism of Israel’s actions, with Bishop stating “Israel has gone too far when it comes to what they’re doing in Gaza right now.” However, some National Party MPs have expressed discomfort with the Prime Minister’s choice of words.
International Law and Humanitarian Concerns
Luxon’s criticism is grounded in concerns about potential breaches of international law. “We have said a forcible displacement of people and an annexation of Gaza would be a breach of international law,” he stated. The Prime Minister warned that recent attacks could “extinguish a pathway” to a two-state solution.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with foreign ministers from dozens of countries jointly declaring that suffering has reached “unimaginable levels” and that “famine is unfolding before our eyes.” According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 227 people – including 103 children – have died from malnutrition since the beginning of the war.
These conditions have prompted calls for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and permit humanitarian organisations to operate there, demands that Luxon argues Netanyahu is consistently ignoring.
Strategic Implications for New Zealand
The diplomatic row highlights New Zealand’s delicate position as a small nation seeking to maintain principled foreign policy positions whilst preserving important international relationships. Luxon acknowledged this challenge, noting: “We are a small country a long way away, with very limited trade with Israel. We have very little connection with the country, but we have stood up for values, and we keep articulating them very consistently.”
The Prime Minister announced that New Zealand would consider its position on recognising a Palestinian state over the next month, a timeline that has drawn criticism for perceived delays in decision-making on a critical international issue.
Summary
Christopher Luxon’s unprecedented criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu marks a significant shift in New Zealand’s diplomatic rhetoric on the Gaza conflict, reflecting growing international frustration with Israel’s military operations and humanitarian restrictions. While the blunt assessment has triggered a diplomatic spat with Israel and highlighted divisions within the Five Eyes alliance, it also demonstrates New Zealand’s willingness to take principled stands on international law and human rights issues. As the Prime Minister faces pressure both domestically and internationally to clarify New Zealand’s position on Palestinian statehood, his strong words against Netanyahu signal a more assertive approach to Middle East diplomacy that may reshape the country’s international relationships and regional standing.
