Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, has come under scrutiny for the wording of her initial statement over the attacks by Hamas militants in Israel which are unprecedented in modern times. 

The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed more than 700 Israelis have been killed since Saturday morning with more than 2150 injured. 

Palestinian officials say 413 people have been killed in Gaza from retaliatory airstrikes, with 2300 wounded. 

The attacks have been met with a global condemnation from world leaders and foreign ministers, including US President Joe Biden stating he was ready to offer all forms of support to Israel.  Similar statements of condemnation were issued by the President of France, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of Australia and the President of the EU Commission, amongst others. 

But Mahuta took a different approach on X – formerly known as Twitter – on Sunday. 

“Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned at the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Gaza. We call for the immediate cessation of violence. The protection of all civilians and upholding of international humanitarian law is essential.” 

However, shortly after Prime Minister Chris Hipkins issued his own condemnation of the attacks, Mahuta issued a second post in which she expressed her condemnation of the “terrorist attacks led by Hamas on Israel”. 

But Mahuta’s initial post attracted strong criticism, including from Jewish groups in New Zealand, with the Israel Institute of New Zealand posting a compare and contrast of other countries’ leaders and ambassadors – including Mahuta’s Australian counterpart Penny Wong – all unequivocal in their condemnation of Hamas. 

Hipkins told Mike Hosking he didn’t talk to Mahuta before her initial post. 

“I was unavailable, I was busy doing other campaign-related activities at the time, but I’m very comfortable with the statement that I then put out later on in the morning.” 

He said it’s likely he would’ve said something regardless given it’s a major international event, but people shouldn’t read much into it. 

“I think her wording could’ve been stronger, but ultimately, we were saying the same thing. It’s wrong, and we both want a two-state solution, we do want to see de-escalating, but we absolutely respect Israel’s right to defend itself.” 

In response to Hosking arguing that Mahuta had misread the situation and questioning whether she would retain the Foreign Affairs portfolio if Labour prevailed in the election, Hipkins responded, "Well, I'm not doing, I'm not dishing out jobs at a future government today, but I, I have absolute confidence in Nanaia Mahuta."

National’s Nicola Willis told Kate Hawkesby Labour have been a complete shamble over it, describing the initial tweet as “weak” and “watery”. 

She said it took National leader Christopher Luxon to save face and condemn the attacks, before Hipkins condemned it a couple of hours later to align with our Five Eyes partners and other allies on the matter. 

“Looks to me like Labour are in a mess over this issue with the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister not even on the same page.” 

New Zealand doesn’t formally recognise Palestine as a state, but views the West Bank and Gaza as “occupied territories” – which is in line with a 1967 UN Security Council resolution that found Israel illegally seized those lands, and opposes constructing new settlements in the area. 

Mahuta was also due to visit Israel in August, including two days in Palestine – which would’ve made her the first senior representative of a Western nation to visit – but called it off due to “restricted flexibility” in her schedule.