Christopher Luxon’s first Question Time in the House as Prime Minister will feature much debate about his Government’s approach to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
It was reported earlier today Foreign Minister Winston Peters was expected to call on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict - including countries with influence in the region - to “take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire”.
Parliament’s agenda for this afternoon stated Peters would ask Parliament to express grave concern at the ongoing violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
He would also “unequivocally condemn” the Hamas terror attacks of October 7 and call for the release of all hostages.
The first Question Time of the new Government began at 2pm and started with a question to Luxon from Labour leader Chris Hipkins on one of the Prime Minister’s previous comments about calling for a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins lead MPs into the debating chamber during the State Opening of Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
While he was caretaker PM, Hipkins last month called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The caretaker Government had previously talked with National about calling for a ceasefire. National did not agree to that so Hipkins decided to go it alone and call for a ceasefire as Labour leader, rather than Prime Minister of the caretaker Government.
Party leaders Marama Davidson (Green Party) and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Te Pāti Māori) also have questions for Luxon today, but it wasn’t clear whether they would attempt to debate the conflict.
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman was set to ask Peters whether he would “join the United Nations Secretary-General, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the majority of New Zealanders according to a recent poll to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza”.
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