Founder of 'Free Palestine' Party in New Zealand: Gaza is the Holocaust of Our Era and Major Powers are Complicit

Paul Hopkinson, founder of the 'Free Palestine' Party in New Zealand, affirmed that the party primarily aims to hold the New Zealand government and international powers accountable for what he described as complicity in the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. Hopkinson explained that what the world is witnessing today is the Holocaust of our era, whose details are broadcast live amidst suspicious international silence.

The political activist and high school teacher reviewed the party's objectives, which came into existence last May, noting that its political program focuses on bringing the Palestinian issue back to the forefront of global attention. He added that recent regional tensions have led to a decline in media momentum around Gaza, which the party seeks to address before the 2026 elections.

Hopkinson stressed that the establishment of the party represents a tool to hold New Zealand politicians accountable, whom he considered partners in the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people for decades. He pointed out that the coalition-based political system has not changed the reality of complicity, whether the parties are in power or in the opposition.

The party's founder considered that all traditional political forces in his country failed the moral test regarding Palestine once they came to power. He attributed this to New Zealand's subservience to what he described as the 'American Empire,' which makes it part of a system that indirectly supports Israeli crimes.

Hopkinson described the Palestinian issue as the most important moral issue in the contemporary world, affirming that his party will remain dedicated to defending it. He strongly criticized the major powers' failure to take effective measures to stop the massacres, with some even going so far as to militarily and politically support the occupation.

In a sharp critique of the occupation, Hopkinson described Israel as a 'rogue state' that has caused global economic crises and dragged the region to the brink. He noted that continuous attacks and tensions with Iran threaten international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the destructive impact of Israeli policies.

The New Zealand activist expressed his conviction that peace in the Middle East will not be achieved as long as the Israeli entity continues in its current form. He affirmed that the party's success so far lies in restoring momentum to the public discussion about Palestinian rights within and outside New Zealand society.

Regarding public interaction, Hopkinson explained that the party received widespread public support, enabling it to attract the required members for registration in record time. Despite attacks from the Zionist lobby, public awareness of the reality of the crimes committed in Gaza is continuously increasing.

He indicated that the party's priorities, if it reaches parliament, will be to demand New Zealand's withdrawal from military alliances with the United States and Europe. The party believes that these alliances make their country a partner in imperialism and in covering up genocide crimes.

Sources revealed the party's dissatisfaction with the participation of New Zealand soldiers in joint military exercises with American and Israeli forces coinciding with the aggression on Gaza. Hopkinson considered that these practices reinforce the state of complicity that the party seeks to end through legislative channels.

The party adopts the slogan 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' emphasizing a legal and political battle to defend freedom of expression. This comes amidst attempts by some Western countries to ban this slogan and restrict solidarity movements with the Palestinian people.

Hopkinson described the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as the most technologically advanced in history, where civilians are deprived of the most basic necessities of life. He affirmed that the victim cannot be blamed for their reactions to an occupation that practices the most heinous forms of abuse and systematic killing.

The founder of the 'Free Palestine' Party called on global solidarity movements to intensify pressure on the Israeli occupation by all available means. He stressed that expanding solidarity networks is the only way to confront Zionist influence and the imperialism that supports the continuation of the occupation.

It is worth noting that the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 2023 has caused massive destruction, affecting 90% of the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Despite ceasefire announcements, raids and restrictions on aid continue to claim the lives of hundreds of civilians weekly.

What is happening in Gaza is the Holocaust of our era that we are watching live, and the major powers are not just silent but complicit.