10:57 p.m. ET, February 28, 2024
New Zealand calls all of Hamas a “terrorist entity”
By CNN's Michael Rios and Akanksha Sharma
The New Zealand government on Thursday designated the entire Hamas as a “terrorist entity,” expanding its policy toward the Islamist group.
The country now considers the political wing of Hamas a “terrorist entity.” In 2010, Hamas's military wing was designated a “terrorist entity.”
“What happened on October 7th shows that we can no longer distinguish between the military and political wings of Hamas,” said New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
He said that “the organization as a whole bears responsibility for these terrible terrorist attacks.”
The move means all Hamas assets in New Zealand will be frozen and any financial or property transactions or material support to Hamas in the country will now be a criminal offence.
Calls to end the violence: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon clarified that “this designation is aimed at Hamas and not the provision of private humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.”
It also will not hinder New Zealand's efforts to provide humanitarian and development assistance to civilians in Gaza, Luxon said.
Consular assistance for New Zealand citizens or permanent residents in the conflict zone will also remain unaffected.
Peters said Wellington remained “deeply concerned” about the impact of the conflict on civilians in Gaza and called for “an end to the violence and an urgent resumption of the Middle East peace process”.
“A lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through peaceful means,” said Peters.