By Greg Bouwer on J-Wire…
Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese emerged from their snowy Queenstown meeting this week with a joint statement urging Israel to “reconsider” its plan to take control of Gaza City.
The leaders warned it would be “wrong”, risk breaching international law, and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
While humanitarian concerns are legitimate, the position outlined in Queenstown ignores the realities of how we got here and the legal obligations Israel has to protect its people.
1. October 7 Changed Everything
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust — murdering some 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, injuring thousands, and abducting over 250 hostages. Both New Zealand and Australia list Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Any discussion about Gaza must begin here, because this was the catalyst for Israel’s current military campaign.
Read Greg Bouwer’s opinion piece in full on J-Wire HERE.
Read the Times of Israel’s article “Australia to recognize Palestinian state next month; New Zealand weighs following suit”.
