New Zealand Designates Hezbollah and Houthis as Terrorist Organizations

In a significant move, the New Zealand government has officially designated both Hezbollah and the Houthis as terrorist organizations. The decision, announced on Wednesday, marks a notable step in New Zealand's ongoing efforts to combat global terrorism.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon explained the criteria for such a designation, stating that an organization must meet specific legal tests, including evidence of terrorist activities. "For any organization to be deemed a terrorist organization under New Zealand legislation, we have to have evidence, and we go through a number of tests," Luxon said.

With this move, New Zealand joins the ranks of 30 other countries that have recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist group in its entirety, rather than just its military wing. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar expressed his approval on social media, congratulating the New Zealand government for this decision.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, and the Houthis, a rebel group in Yemen, have long been involved in violent activities in the Middle East. This designation reflects New Zealand's commitment to addressing organizations that engage in terrorism and other destabilizing activities.

New Zealand's designation follows the country's February listing of Hamas as a terrorist entity. Prime Minister Luxon emphasized that New Zealand's stance on Hamas was focused on the group's actions as a terrorist organization, separate from its view on the broader Palestinian people.