Israel’s occupation of Gaza City “utterly unacceptable” — New Zealand Leader LUXON

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - New Zealander Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon delivered his strongest rebuke yet of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, calling Israel’s planned military occupation of Gaza City “utterly unacceptable” and accusing Netanyahu of having “lost the plot.”

Luxon said Netanyahu was “not listening” to the international community’s calls for unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, where famine and displacement are worsening.

“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,” Luxon told reporters.

Netanyahu’s office has not responded to the remarks as at press time.

The comments come as New Zealand weighs whether to join Five Eyes partners Australia, Britain, and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state. The debate follows Israel’s intensified bombardment and plans to take control of Gaza City—moves expected to displace up to a million people and widely condemned as breaches of international law.

At least 227 people, including 103 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. On Tuesday, foreign ministers from dozens of countries warned that “famine is unfolding before our eyes” and urged Israel to allow more aid.

Luxon’s criticism mirrors that of other Western leaders. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Netanyahu was “in denial” about the war’s civilian toll. Australia has pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September; France has announced it will do the same.

New Zealand remains undecided, with Luxon saying a decision will come within a month, a delay drawing fire from domestic critics, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who called the stance “humiliating.”

Tensions over the issue flared in Parliament Tuesday when Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was ejected after telling coalition MPs they needed “a spine” to back sanctions against Israel.