Summarised by Centrist
Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick delivered a speech in Parliament calling for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood and sanction Israel for what she described as war crimes.
She asserted that the ongoing conflict constitutes ethnic cleansing and genocide, citing Holocaust and genocide scholar Omar Bartov, who, despite his Zionist background, concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
Swarbrick declared, “If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” directly challenging the resolve of her colleagues.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee condemned the remark as “completely unacceptable” and demanded she withdraw and apologise. When Swarbrick refused, Brownlee ordered her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week.
In contrast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters urged a more measured approach, noting the complexity of the issue. “There are strong opinions on both sides,” he said, stressing the government’s need to proceed “carefully, judiciously and calmly.”
Peters also reminded Parliament that Labour did not move to recognise Palestine during its time in government.
Auckland University law professor Treasa Dunworth argued the government’s reluctance to join other Anglosphere countries in recognising Palestinian statehood, contingent on Hamas disarming, may be rooted in “our diplomatic relationship with the United States.” Dunworth said looming above that is the question of the tariffs being imposed by Donald Trump.
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