Government delay on recognising Palestinian state weak and deeply embarrassing

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

 11 August 2025

 Media Release:

 Government delay on recognising Palestinian state weak and deeply embarrassing 

The government decision to delay till September considering whether to recognise a Palestinian state is weak and deeply embarrassing.

Recognising a Palestinian state is decades overdue and the government could even delay it further.

There was a time when New Zaland would have been a leader in standing up for human rights and international law but we are now the slowest follower in the western world – a shameful place to be.

But recognising Palestine is NOT a substitute for sanctions against Israel.

“Sanctions against Israel is the only way to force this apartheid state to end the genocide in Gaza” says PSNA Co-Chair John Minto. “This is the urgent priority.”

Israel continues with the mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians in Gaza because it has never been held to account by western countries such as New Zealand.

“This impunity for genocide must end”

This Saturday 16 August the Palestine Solidarity movement has a National Day of Action for Palestine.

People in more than 30 centres will be rallying and marching and demanding the NZ government recognise Palestine and impose government sanctions against Israel’s genocidal attacks on Palestine.

John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA