New Zealand has designated Hamas’s Qassam Brigades as a terrorist entity since 2010. (document)
Wellington, New Zealand:
New Zealand on Thursday became one of the last Western countries to designate Hamas as a whole a “terrorist entity,” saying the Oct. 7 attack shattered the notion that its political and military wings could be separated.
“The entire organization bears responsibility for these horrific terrorist attacks,” the government said, announcing action to freeze Hamas’ assets in New Zealand and ban “material support” to it.
“The terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in October 2023 were brutal and we unequivocally condemn them,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement.
Luxon stressed that the designation was directed at Hamas and “is not a reflection on the Palestinian people in Gaza and around the world,” while saying humanitarian support would continue.
“This designation does not prevent New Zealand from providing humanitarian and future development assistance to benefit civilians in Gaza.”
New Zealand has designated Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist entity since 2010.
But it has been reluctant to follow other Western countries in designating the entire group – which is also a political party and has broad support among Palestinians.
Hamas won Gaza’s elections in 2006 and no new polls have been conducted since.
Some New Zealand politicians believe Hamas’s “terrorist” designation should be matched with that of Israel, after the IDF’s months-long bombing campaign in Gaza said nearly 30,000 people had been killed. Similar titles for the Wehrmacht to match. .
Such a move is highly unlikely, but New Zealand also announced sanctions on Thursday against a dozen “extremist Israeli settlers” accused of violence against Palestinians.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said: “We have a travel ban on a number of people who are known to have committed violent acts. These people will not be able to travel to New Zealand.”
The names of these individuals have not been made public.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
