Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), I request the following information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) regarding New Zealand's foreign policy positions on the State of Palestine and relations with Israel.

This request relates to New Zealand's ongoing non-recognition of the State of Palestine as a sovereign state and the maintenance of standard bilateral relations with Israel, in light of documented allegations of violations of international humanitarian law by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

For context, I refer to a non-exhaustive list of alleged incidents attributed to the IDF over the past decade (2015–2025), as documented by international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and others.

These include:

Excessive lethal force during the 2015–2016 wave of violence in the West Bank and Gaza, resulting in over 120 Palestinian deaths (e.g., the extrajudicial killing of Hadeel al-Hashlamoun in Hebron on 22 September 2015).

The killing of 214 Palestinian protesters during the Great March of Return (2018–2019), including 46 children and 8 medics.

Airstrikes on civilian sites in Gaza (e.g., May 2019 strikes killing 13 civilians; November 2019 al-Sawarka family home strike killing 8, including 5 children).

Deadly strikes on residential areas during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, killing 62 civilians.

The 2022 drone strike on Al-Falluja Cemetery in Gaza, killing 5 children.

Escalations in 2023 leading to the Gaza war, including the May 2023 precision bomb strike killing 10 civilians.

Numerous incidents during the 2023–2025 Gaza war, such as attacks on protected sites (hospitals, mosques, refugee camps), the killing of journalists (e.g., Reuters' Issam Abdallah on 13 October 2023), aid workers (e.g., 7 World Central Kitchen staff on 1 April 2024; 15 medics in the Rafah convoy on 23 March 2025), and UN vehicles (e.g., gunfire on a World Food Programme vehicle on 29 August 2024).

Broader patterns, including sieges denying essentials to Gaza's population and over 100 journalist killings (2023–2025).

Fatality Statistics: In addition, credible reports indicate approximately 45,700–45,800 Palestinian fatalities from IDF actions across Gaza and the West Bank since 2015, including ~16,700 children (~36%) and ~12,250–12,300 women (~27%).

These figures are drawn from UN OCHA, B'Tselem, OHCHR, and UNRWA data (e.g., Gaza war totals: 43,000+ since October 2023, with 70% verified victims being women and children per UN Human Rights Office; West Bank: ~1,500–1,600 total, including ~400 children). Undercounting due to access issues may add thousands more.

Soldier Testimonies: Furthermore, former IDF soldiers have provided testimonies through organizations like Breaking the Silence (an Israeli NGO), admitting to participation in or witnessing abuses such as excessive force, property destruction, and civilian humiliation in the occupied territories.

Key examples include:
"Breaking the Silence: Israeli Soldiers Speak Out" (2018 video series): Soldiers confess to home invasions and using Palestinians as human shields.

"Israel: Breaking the Silence" (DW Documentary, 2017): Admissions of violence in Hebron, including stun grenade use on children.

Post-2023 Gaza testimonies (2024 Breaking the Silence publications): Confessions of indiscriminate bombing and aid blockades.
These have been featured in over 1,500 collected accounts and used in UN reports.

A full list with source links is available upon request or can be attached if needed. These allegations have been subject to UN inquiries, ICC warrants (e.g., November 2024 for Israeli leaders on starvation as a method of war), and calls for accountability.

In light of this, I request the following information, to the extent it is held by MFAT:

Awareness of Incidents: Copies of any internal briefings, reports, assessments, or correspondence (including emails, memos, or diplomatic cables) prepared or received by MFAT since 1 January 2015 that reference or analyze awareness of the above-listed incidents (or similar alleged IDF violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories), including the fatality statistics and soldier testimonies provided.

This includes any summaries of UN, HRW, Amnesty International, ICC, or Breaking the Silence findings on these matters. If no such documents exist, please confirm in writing that MFAT is not aware of these incidents, statistics, or testimonies.

Policy on Recognition of Palestine:

a. The most recent internal policy documents, Cabinet papers, or ministerial briefings outlining the rationale for New Zealand's decision not to recognize the State of Palestine as a sovereign state (as of September 2025).

b. Any assessments or advice provided to the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1 January 2023 evaluating whether alleged IDF actions (such as those listed above, including the high proportion of women and child fatalities and soldier admissions) should influence a reconsideration of Palestine's recognition status.

c. Records of any discussions with international partners (e.g., Five Eyes allies, UN bodies) on the impact of these incidents, fatalities, and testimonies on state recognition criteria.

Bilateral Relations with Israel:

a. Details of any internal reviews, risk assessments, or ethical evaluations conducted by MFAT since 7 October 2023 regarding the continuation of "business as usual" relations with Israel (e.g., trade, military cooperation, diplomatic engagements), in the context of the alleged incidents, fatality statistics, soldier testimonies, and the ongoing Gaza conflict.

b. Copies of correspondence between MFAT and the Israeli government or embassy since 1 January 2024 that reference these incidents, fatalities, or testimonies, including any requests for explanations, apologies, or inquiries raised by New Zealand.

c. Any advice to Cabinet or the Prime Minister on whether these allegations, fatality figures, and soldier admissions warrant adjustments to bilateral ties, such as trade restrictions, arms export controls, or suspension of agreements. If no such advice exists, please confirm.
Broader Considerations: Any documents analyzing the consistency of New Zealand's foreign policy with its commitments under international law (e.g., UN Charter, Geneva Conventions) in maintaining relations with Israel amid these allegations, high civilian casualties (particularly among women and children), and soldier testimonies, including potential reputational or legal risks.

I request that the information be provided in electronic format where possible (e.g., PDF or searchable text) and redacted only to the extent necessary under the OIA (e.g., sections 6, 9).

If any part of this request is likely to take longer than 20 working days, please provide an extension notice with reasons. I would also appreciate an index or summary of withheld information under section 10.

If you require clarification on any part of this request, please let me know.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as required by the OIA.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,
Yasir Shaikh