"New Zealand Designates Hamas as Terrorist Group, Imposes Sanctions on Israeli Settlers"

New Zealand has designated the entire Hamas organization as a terrorist entity and imposed travel bans on "extremist" Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. The decision makes it a criminal offense to engage in transactions with Hamas and freezes its assets in New Zealand, but does not affect humanitarian aid or consular support. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed concern over the increase in extremist violence by Israeli settlers and reiterated New Zealand's support for a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East.