Face of the Day

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, also talking to First Up, said the government’s policy “remains the same”.

“The government would like to see a two-state solution and is prepared to recognise Palestine at some point, but it has no commitment to do that right now because there remain serious questions.

“First of all, what is the state that you’re recognising? What are its borders, who is its government? And second of all, what are the implications of recognition, given that this is a place still run by Hamas – a terrorist group, which, people frequently forget, committed a horrific atrocity, which is why this conflict began, and still continues to hold terrorists and still continues to hold a conviction that Israel and the Jewish people from the region should not exist.

“So, you know, that’s the other side of the consideration that is sometimes forgotten as people see these horrific scenes on their social media and on the news at night.”

He hoped a future Palestinian state would have “more peaceful” leadership.

“But right now you still have Hamas there, and I can’t stress it enough. Many people are outraged, but they direct all of their outrage in one direction… I think what is critical here is to get to an end to the humanitarian suffering, and that requires ultimately, the end of Hamas. They are the centre, and the cause of this problem.”

RNZ