Palestine has welcomed New Zealand's new position on the Israel-Hamas war, with Kiwi leaders for the first time prepared to directly criticise Israel.
Last week, New Zealand voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution to support Palestine, which requested Israeli settlers and soldiers to leave occupied territories, for reparations and sanctions.
Israel had gone "far too far" in its defence in the near year-long war, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said.
"Of course (Israel has got) the right to defend themselves but there comes a time when you cannot maintain that argument when so many innocent people become the victims of your defence," he told Radio NZ.
Deputy PM Winston Peters believed Kiwis backed the Luxon government's UN vote. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)
Around 42,000 Gazans including 16,000 children have been killed in Israel's offensive on the Palestinian territory, according to local authorities.
Israel's military action was sparked by an attack by Hamas militants on October 7 who killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Mr Peters said he believed Kiwis backed its UN vote, saying it was "what New Zealanders would want us to do".
New Zealand's supporting vote was in contrast to abstentions made by Australia and Canada - three countries which previously held the same position and issued joint statements on the war.
📣 🇳🇿 has voted for a 🇺🇳 resolution on Israel's presence in occupied Palestinian Territory.— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) "New Zealand's yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution," - WPPress release: https://t.co/rD7tlwuurBSeptember 18, 2024
Until this week, New Zealand had only indirectly chided Israel with statements like "Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community", or requests to both sides to "exercise restraint".
On Monday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon was asked directly whether he thought Israel's military response to Hamas' October 7 attacks had been disproportionate, saying "yes".
Mr Luxon also said all three government parties supported the UN General Assembly vote and Mr Peters' commentary.
"It's not the same situation it was 12 months ago, and so our position is, I think, a very clear-minded and very sensible one," he said.
"We've seen huge challenges in recent days and recent weeks, and a real risk of contagion throughout the region and that's why we support that (UN resolution)."
New Zealand's deputy PM is likely to meet Palestine PM Mohammad Mustafa alongside UN engagements. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
However, Mr Luxon's claim of a coalition in lockstep was undermined on Tuesday when the right-wing ACT party complained to Mr Peters it was left out of talks.
"We hadn't been consulted on this decision and have raised it with the Foreign Minister. We expect a more open dialogue in the future," ACT leader David Seymour told AAP.
A spokesman for Mr Peters responded by saying he didn't "consult with coalition partners on the literally hundreds of UN General Assembly resolutions that are considered each year".
While the vote exposed a rift in New Zealand's government, Palestinian Envoy to Australia and New Zealand Izzat Abdulhadi told AAP he was "very much pleased" by the Kiwi support.
"They want to support international law. This was a leadership position," he said.
"What is significant is the minister indicated there is limitation for self defence, it's not an absolute concept of Israel."
It is not first time New Zealand has supported the Palestinian cause at the UN.
In December 2016, New Zealand moved Security Council resolution 2334, which passed and confirmed Israel's occupation of Palestine as illegal when the Obama administration chose not to veto it.
"This was a turning point for Palestinian rights ... it was very courageous by New Zealand," Dr Abdulhadi said.
"(New Zealand) is most supportive of international law and less subjected to the pro-Israeli lobby, it's not like in Australia."
Mr Peters is in New York this week, where he is likely to meet with Palestine Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa alongside UN engagements.
Dr Abdulhadi said New Zealand could go further by recognising a Palestinian state, which Mr Peters has indicated he is reticent to do.
"If we want to save the two-state solution, it is the time now to recognise state of Palestine," Dr Abdulhadi said.
"We don't know what will happen in the American presidential elections ... if Trump comes, he will put more pressure on countries not to recognise the state of Palestine."