New Zealand designates all of Hamas as 'terrorist entity'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Feb 2024 05:29
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New Zealand's government announces a freeze on Hamas assets in the country and a ban on providing it with "material support".

The New Zealand flag flutters outside the parliament buildings in Wellington, on October 29, 2014. (Marty Melville, AFP)

New Zealand on Thursday designated the entirety of the Hamas movement as a "terrorist entity" over the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

The country's government announced a move that spells a freeze on Hamas assets in New Zealand and a ban on providing it with "material support".

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement that the designation was about Hamas "and is not a reflection on the Palestinian people in Gaza and around the world" while indicating humanitarian support would continue.

"The designation does not stop New Zealand [from] providing humanitarian and future development assistance to benefit civilians in Gaza."

New Zealand had designated al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, as a "terrorist entity" since 2010.

Some New Zealand political figures have argued that Hamas' designation should be matched by a similar designation of the Israeli occupation forces over their war on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 30,000 people.

Such a move is highly unlikely, but New Zealand also announced on Thursday sanctions on about a dozen "extremist Israeli settlers" accused of violence against Palestinians.

"We are imposing travel bans on a number of people known to have committed violent acts. These individuals will not be able to travel to New Zealand," confirmed Foreign Minister Winston Peters.