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.

Read more: New Zealand motions for immediate ceasefire in Gaza