A New Zealand-Israeli citizen is understood to have been killed in Gaza, while serving for the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he had heard reports of the death, but was waiting for the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify the information before commenting further.
New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Ben Kepes said he understood the reports of an Israeli-New Zealand citizen being killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict were accurate.
He said he expected there to be many Israelis with New Zealand citizenship fighting in the conflict.
“There will be lots and lots and lots. I know, anecdotally, I grew up in Wellington and a significant number of my peers from when I grew up ended up immigrating to Israel and so they will have children who are all who are all serving,” he said.
“It’s really tragic and it’s really important to remember they were all peacefully involved in the ceasefire prior to October 7, and that’s the context here. Hamas breached the ceasefire.”
Fatima Shbair/AP
Palestinians look at houses destroyed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday afternoon said officials were “seeking further details”.
“We are aware of reports of the death of a New Zealand-Israeli citizen in Gaza,” the spokesperson said.
Israel’s embassy in Wellington has been approached for comment.
In October, New Zealand-born Israeli soldier Adam Agmon died, aged 21, while fighting at the Kibbutz Nirim.
