Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
PSNA says Winston Peters must immediately and thoroughly condemn Israel’s bombing on the Qatari capital Doha.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-chair John Minto, says even Israel’s sponsor in chief, Donald Trump, has publicly disagreed with the Israeli attempt to kill Hamas negotiators in Qatar.
“Even by the blatant standards of aggression Israel has set itself, bombing a ceasefire negotiation meeting in yet another country is an outrage.”
“Israel can have sent no clearer message, that it is not interested in negotiating a peaceful outcome.”
“It’s far from the first time Israel has targeted Hamas negotiators in the Hamas leadership. It’s made the job of negotiating with Israel the second most dangerous in the world – just behind being a journalist reporting on the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”
Minto says for nearly two years Peters has been championing a negotiated outcome in Gaza.
“He made a major ministerial statement in late July. In it he was praising and giving ‘complete support’ to the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US to reach a ceasefire.”
“Israel has just spat in the face of the New Zealand, and every other government who has called for a negotiated settlement.”
Minto says nobody is safe from Israeli attack.
“Countries, such as Germany and the UK, have redefined protest against Israeli starvation and ethnic cleansing as a terrorist act. Israel has vowed to kill what it calls terrorists where ever they may be.”
“With Israel bombing Qatar and simultaneously sending drones to target the Global Sumud Flotilla aid convoy off Tunisia, Israel has now openly attacked seven countries in the past two years.”
“This time, with an attack on a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Israeli aggression is particularly dangerous.”
Winston Peters is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly later in the month and Minto says the government must give him a clear message.
“Stop always blaming Hamas for everything, and finding excuses for Israel and always giving Netanyahu the benefit of the doubt, by pretending others ministers in his cabinet are the extremists.”
“Netanyahu leads an openly genocidal government, which is not interested in peace, including getting hostages released. It has shown utterly contemptable brutality and an end game of ethnic cleansing.”
“Luxon and the cabinet can’t allow itself to continue to be hoodwinked yet again. It must instruct Peters that delivering sanctions against Israel in New Zealand, and demanding them in the UN, are they only way to join the direction the rest of the world is taking and the only way to uphold a humanitarian rules-based outcome to achieve the rights of Palestinians which have been denied since 1948.”
John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA
