New Zealand is considering recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday.

New Zealand has confirmed it is weighing official recognition of the State of Palestine, a step that could deal a blow to the diplomatic cover long enjoyed by the Israeli regime.

Winston Peters notes humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is rightly at forefront of global agenda - Anadolu Ajansı

New Zealand is deliberating on recognizing a Palestinian state, with a decision expected in September. This follows similar moves from countries like Australia and Canada. Foreign Minister Winston Peters emphasized New Zealand's independent policy and the government's commitment to aligning its actions with its core principles and national interests.

Peters said that while some of New Zealand's close partners had opted to recognize a Palestinian state, New Zealand had an independent foreign policy.

New Zealand will make a decision on whether to recognize Palestine as a state next month at the UN General Assembly's Leader's Meeting in New York, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement on Monday.

Speaking after taking an oral item on the matter to Cabinet, Peters said the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was at the forefront of global concern and directly relevant to the debate over recognition.

It was not a straightforward, clear-cut issue, with a broad range of strongly held views within the government. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Government will formally weigh up New Zealand’s position on the recognition of Palestine over the next month, says But he’s acknowledged it is “not a straightforward, clear-cut issue” and there are a “range of strongly held views within our Government,