New Zealand's Luxon Critiques Netanyahu: Has Israel's Leader 'Lost the Plot'?

Israel: New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, issued his most forceful condemnation yet of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, deeming Israel's proposed military occupation of Gaza City as "completely unacceptable" and accusing Netanyahu of having "lost his way."

Luxon remarked that Netanyahu was "not heeding" the international community's pleas for unrestricted humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where the situation of famine and displacement is deteriorating.

"I believe Netanyahu has overstepped. I think he has lost his way. And what we are witnessing overnight with the assault on Gaza City is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable," Luxon expressed to reporters.

As of the time of this report, Netanyahu's office had not issued a response to these comments.

These statements arise as New Zealand considers whether to align with its Five Eyes allies—Australia, Britain, and Canada—in recognizing a Palestinian state. This discussion follows Israel's escalated bombardment and intentions to seize control of Gaza City—actions anticipated to displace nearly a million individuals and widely criticized as violations of international law.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 227 individuals, including 103 children, have succumbed to malnutrition since the onset of the conflict. On Tuesday, foreign ministers from numerous nations cautioned that "famine is unfolding before our eyes" and urged Israel to permit increased aid.

Luxon's denunciation reflects sentiments shared by other Western leaders. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Netanyahu was "in denial" regarding the civilian casualties of the war. Australia has committed to recognizing Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September, with France also announcing its intention to do the same.

New Zealand remains in a state of indecision, with Luxon indicating that a resolution will be reached within a month, a postponement that has drawn criticism from domestic opponents, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who labeled the position as "humiliating." Tensions regarding this matter escalated in Parliament on Tuesday when Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was removed after telling coalition MPs they needed “a spine” to back sanctions against Israel.