Ankara / Anadolu Agency

Founder of Free Palestine Party in New Zealand Paul Hopkinson: Our goals:

Holding politicians accountable as partners in crimes committed against the Palestinian people for 78 years.

Criticizing the positions of governments that align with the American empire.

Emphasizing that the Palestinian cause is a global moral priority.

What is happening in Gaza is the holocaust of our era, watched live by the world amid the silence of major powers.

Paul Hopkinson, founder of the Free Palestine Party in New Zealand, said his party aims to hold his country and the world's major powers responsible for what he described as 'complicity in the genocide' committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, considering that what is happening is 'the holocaust of our era, and we are watching it live.'

In his interview with Anadolu, Hopkinson, a high school teacher and pro-Palestinian activist, outlined the goals of the party, which was founded last May, its political program, and its supportive stance on the Palestinian cause.

He explained that the war that erupted following the mutual attacks between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other led to a decline in attention to what is happening in Gaza, noting that 2026 will see elections in New Zealand, which prompted him to found the Free Palestine Party to refocus attention on the issue.

Holding politicians and party coalitions accountable

Hopkinson said: 'Establishing the party is a good way to hold our politicians accountable, who have been partners in the ongoing holocaust over 78 years against the Palestinian people.'

He added that the political system in New Zealand is based on party coalitions, but all parties, whether right-wing or left-wing, were, in his view, 'complicit' in the genocide in Gaza.

He continued: 'All these parties were in power while Israel was committing crimes against Palestine. When they are out of power, they often make nice statements, but when they come to power, they become partners in these crimes, because we are part of the American empire.'

He affirmed that his party will remain dedicated to the Palestinian cause, saying: 'We consider this issue the most important moral issue facing the world today, because it is the holocaust of our era, and we are watching it live. The world's major powers are doing nothing; rather, they are complicit in it.'

Sharp criticism of Israel

Hopkinson leveled sharp criticism at Israel, saying: 'Israel, the rogue state that should never have existed in the first place, is causing a decline in the global economy and pushing the world toward a potential crisis due to its attacks on Iran and the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz.'

He noted that he does not trust New Zealand's political parties regarding the Palestinian cause, considering they have completely failed in this file, and added: 'I do not believe peace will be achieved in the Middle East as long as Israel exists. All crises in the region arise because of Israel or are caused by it. Our success has been in returning the Palestinian issue to the attention of New Zealanders and the world.'

Limiting complicity in genocide

Hopkinson explained that they received mostly positive reactions after announcing the party, saying: 'Of course, the Zionist lobby did not like that, but we received broad support from the general public,' affirming that they managed to attract the required number of members in 'record time.'

He added: 'Not everyone may know the details of what is happening, but they have come to realize that Israel is not the good side, and that it is committing horrific acts. This has greatly enhanced our ability to organize and pressure the government.'

He pointed out that if the party gets seats in parliament, its priority will be to work for New Zealand's withdrawal from the military and security alliances that bind it to the United States and other European countries.

In this context, he said: 'We believe these alliances make us partners in American imperialism and in the genocide committed by Israel. While the genocide was ongoing, New Zealand soldiers participated in joint military exercises with American and Israeli soldiers.'

He also stressed that they will call on the government to act within the United Nations to implement the Palestinian right of return, end the occupation, and take action on Israeli violations.

Strengthening pro-Palestinian movements

Hopkinson noted that his party adopts the slogan 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' despite its ban in countries like Britain, Germany, and Australia, affirming that the party is fighting a battle in defense of freedom of expression to prevent New Zealand from following in the footsteps of those countries.

He added that Palestinians live under what he described as 'the most technologically advanced form of siege in the world,' stressing that 'Palestinians should not be held responsible for the Israeli response, which we describe as genocide.'

Hopkinson concluded his remarks by emphasizing that solidarity movements around the world should intensify pressure on Israel by all available means, stressing that 'the wider the solidarity networks, the stronger we become in facing Zionism and American imperialism.'

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked military bases and settlements, resulting in the killing and capture of dozens of Israelis, 'in response to Israeli violations against Palestinians, their holy sites, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.'

Subsequently, Israel began a genocide in Gaza, resulting in the killing of more than 73,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 173,000, along with widespread destruction that affected about 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to launch airstrikes and impose restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip. According to official data, about 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 others wounded since the start of the ceasefire, most of them women and children.