New Zealand MP ejected from Parliament again over Gaza comments

 A New Zealand MP has been ejected from Parliament for a second time after refusing to apologise for calling her opponents spineless during a heated debate on a Palestinian state.

Chlöe Swarbrick, the co-leader of the left-wing Green Party, was initially ordered to leave the chamber on Tuesday.

She had urged government MPs "with a spine" to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the conflict in Gaza.

Despite being handed a three-day ban, considered lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards, Ms Swarbrick returned the following day.

However, she was ejected once more for her continued refusal to apologise for the remark.

Her censure unfolded amid fraught scenes in the country’s Parliament, where the government faced strong criticism for its reluctance to recognise an independent Palestinian state.

It came days after neighbouring Australia pledged to do so. France, Britain, and Canada are also anticipated to recognise a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,” Ms Swarbrick said.

What prompted the original ejection?

Ms Swarbrick was abruptly ejected from the debating chamber when she urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently would not have enough votes to pass into law.

“If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” Ms Swarbrick said, referring to other MPs.

“That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,” Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted.

“Withdraw it and apologise.”

The Green politician refused and Mr Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week.

“Happily,” Ms Swarbrick said.

The standoff resumed when Ms Swarbrick took her seat again on Wednesday, despite the ban, and Mr Brownlee asked again if she would apologise.

Ms Swarbrick declined and was ejected once more, yelling “free Palestine” as she went.

Mr Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand’s Parliament, of taking a vote to “name” Ms Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government MPs endorsing it.