Ankara: New Zealand's foreign minister has slammed Israeli media reports claiming that Israeli citizens visiting the country were required to disclose their military service details.

According to Anadolu Agency, media outlets including Haaretz and The Times of Israel newspapers reported that New Zealand's immigration authorities have introduced rules requiring Israeli citizens applying for a visa to give details of their military background. In response to criticism in this regard from US Senator Ted Cruz on X, Winston Peters said on Saturday: "This Haaretz story is fake news, Senator Ted Cruz. We are demanding it be corrected."

He emphasized that Israelis "do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand, let alone have to declare their military service." Peters also addressed reports about activists launching a 'genocide hotline' to track Israeli soldiers holidaying in New Zealand, calling it "dangerous," and reaffirmed that "Israelis are very welcome to visit New Zealand."

Furthermore, Israel is being investigated for potential genocide in Gaza, where it has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, at the International Court of Justice. The International Criminal Court has separately issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the war.

With some exceptions, Israel requires every citizen over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze, or Circassian to serve in the military.