Get the best experience by installing our app!

0:00

ACT party in New Zealand demands Labour MP Damien O'Connor resign after he retweets a statement justifying Hamas' attack on Israel during the ongoing conflict.

New Zealand's ACT party has called for the resignation of Damien O'Connor, a Labour MP, over a controversial retweet. O'Connor shared a statement from retired US military official Lawrence Wilkerson. In the post, Wilkerson said that Palestinians had every right to respond to events on October 7.

On that day, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. More than 1,100 people were killed, most of whom were Israeli citizens. The attack also resulted in around 250 hostages being taken. This marked the beginning of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Simon Court, the ACT party's foreign affairs spokesman, reacted strongly to O'Connor's post. He described it as an unacceptable action and said it was a sackable offense. Court accused O'Connor of supporting Hamas, stating, "A Labour Party foreign affairs spokesperson has justified the largest Jewish pogrom since the Holocaust."

In response to the backlash, O'Connor deleted the retweet. However, he maintained his views in a statement. He expressed concern about the suffering of civilians in the conflict. He called on the New Zealand government to recognize Palestine and support a case brought against Israel by the International Court of Justice.

A Labour spokeswoman mentioned that O'Connor would not face any punishment since he acknowledged his mistake by removing the retweet himself. O'Connor has been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights since the war began.

In December, he gave a powerful speech in Parliament, where he criticized Israel's military actions. He labeled them as a form of genocide. O'Connor urged Israel to show the same humanity to Palestinians as it expected for itself due to the Holocaust. He condemned the killing of innocent women and children, saying it was outrageous.

Since O'Connor's speech, the death toll in Gaza has surged. Reports indicate that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 16,500 children, as a result of Israeli military actions.

The situation in New Zealand regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict has gained attention again. Earlier in September, New Zealand voted in favor of Palestinian rights at the United Nations. Foreign Minister Winston Peters explained that the vote reflected New Zealand's support for international law. He criticized Israel's response as excessive.

Before the vote, Peters consulted with Prime Minister Chris Luxon. Luxon is the leader of the National Party. The ACT party, which supports Israel, was not consulted.

For the first time, Luxon openly criticized Israel's actions since the war started. He stated that he believed Israel's military response was disproportionate to the initial attack by Hamas.

Simon Court, the ACT party's spokesman, disagreed with Luxon. He argued that Israel had valid reasons for its actions. The court pointed out that Israel has many foreign nationals and Israelis held hostage and has been under constant attack since October 8.

He claimed that Israel was not conducting indiscriminate bombings. Instead, he said they were targeting terrorists who use civilians as shields. The Court expressed strong support for Israel, saying, "I personally believe Israel is on the right side of history."

The situation continues to evolve as tensions remain high. The conflict has sparked discussions and debates across New Zealand. Many are calling for a clearer stance on the humanitarian crisis and the ongoing violence in the region.

As the war continues, the impact on both Israeli and Palestinian communities grows more severe. This situation remains a key topic in New Zealand's political landscape.






 

Join with us

Send

Subscribe Now

Keep updated with the latest news!