New Zealand condemns Israeli minister’s flotilla taunt and summons ambassador over embassy move

New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, publicly condemned a video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir that showed detained Gaza‑flotilla activists being taunted. The video prompted New Zealand to summon the Israeli ambassador, demand that Israel respect international law, and stress the safety of three New Zealand citizens – Mousa Taher, Hāhona Ormsby and Julien Blondel – who are being held after their boats were intercepted by Israeli forces.

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa also called on the New Zealand government to expel the Israeli ambassador over the controversial tenancy of the Israeli embassy in Wellington’s Fisher Funds building. The group cited recent International Criminal Court investigations into Israeli officials for war‑crimes allegations and warned that the embassy’s presence conflicted with New Zealand’s past diplomatic break‑off over alleged Israeli use of fake New Zealand passports.