Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he stands by his “lost the plot” comment about Benjamin Netanyahu after an Israeli minister hit out at him earlier today on social media.
Speaking to reporters, Luxon said he expressed a “personal view”, which reflected “immense frustration from the global community”.
“They’re entitled to their view and we’re entitled to ours. What we are in alignment on is Hamas is a terrorist organisation,” he said.
“But what I’m talking about is the humanitarian catastrophe and suffering that we’re seeing in Gaza.
“We need Israel to heed the global community’s calls, which have been consistent over the period of this conflict, to make sure humanitarian assistance is flooding in, unhindered, neutral [non-governmental organisations] can access and provide that humanitarian assistance, and we need to make sure civilians are protected.”
He denied the comment caused any diplomatic headache, and said the global community had been “consistently calling now for some time now to release hostages, provide humanitarian assistance, [and] ceasefire”.
“That has been our message time and time again, and our position has been really clear.”
He said Israel’s recent move to begin taking over Gaza City was not helping get to a “peaceful and secure situation in the Middle East”, and again called for a two-state solution.
How did this start?
Yesterday, Luxon was questioned on the escalating conflict by reporters in Parliament.
“I think what’s happening in Gaza is utterly appalling. I think Netanyahu has gone way too far, I think he has lost the plot,” he said.
“[Netanyahu] is not listening to the international community, and that is unacceptable.”
Today, Sharren Haskel – who is Israel’s deputy minister of foreign affairs – blasted Luxon on social media over his comment.
“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 – a jihadist death cult – only a few kms away from your country, that rape, execute, burn alive and starve your people,” she said.
Yesterday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was asked whether he would agree with Luxon’s comment on Netanyahu.
“Probably, yes, actually, that’s probably quite an astute observation,” he said.
Hipkins said he took a moment to pause before answering, looking surprised, because of the “strength of the language”.
Also yesterday, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was kicked out of the House for a second time this week after refusing to apologise for a comment she made on Tuesday.
During an urgent debate on whether the Government should recognise Palestinian statehood on Tuesday, Swarbrick said MPs could “grow a spine” and support her bill which would impose sanctions on Israel. She was kicked out for not apologising for the comment.
On Wednesday Swarbrick again refused to withdraw and apologise, and at first, didn’t leave when asked, but left after a vote was called to name her, which the majority of MPs supported.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including police fatally shoot a woman in Christchurch, sausages recalled over glass fears, and why McDonalds Japan isn’t loving its customers right now (Source: 1News)
In recent days, the Government has signalled it would weigh up a position on recognising Palestine as a state, after Netanyahu announced Israel would take over Gaza City last week.
The decision to take over the city marked another escalation in Israel’s 22-month offensive, which began in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack.
On Monday, a heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City. Shortly after, broadcaster Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif had been killed in a strike.
The Associated Press reported three other journalists and a driver were killed, along with al-Sharif.
Israel’s military confirmed the death, asserting al-Sharif “posed as a journalist” but alleged he was with Hamas.
