ISTANBUL

An opposition co-leader was ejected from the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday for a week after she called on her fellow lawmakers to support the party's bill to sanction Israel for its war crimes in Palestine.

"If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history," said Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick, calling on the government to pick up the Greens' "Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill," which the Speaker Gerry Brownlee called "completely unacceptable."

Six lawmakers are currently needed to pass the law.

Brownlee demanded that Swarbrick withdraw and apologize for her statement, but she was barred from parliament for a week after refusing to do so.

The debate came after the New Zealand government announced on Monday that it would consider recognizing an independent state of Palestine.

"We have so much further to go than nearly recognizing the statement of Palestine, as we should have done 76 years ago," said Swarbrick, adding that the Kiwi nation "can and must" uphold the Genocide Convention.

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed nearly 61,500 victims since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.