Nationwide marches, rallies and vigils will take place across the country again this weekend despite the passing of yesterday’s parliamentary motion supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel has now slaughtered well over 6,600 Palestinian children, the equivalent of all the children in 24 average-sized New Zealand primary schools.
We were pleased to see the word genocide has finally reached the New Zealand parliament with a clear refreshing speech from Damien O’Connor who described the reality of life for Palestinians in Gaza.
But instead of sheeting home responsibility for the genocide the government motion contained not a single word of criticism of Israel – not even a peep. The parliamentary motion was a feeble, anti-Palestinian motion.
The focus of the protests is shifting to Palestinian calls for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) against Israel because of its apartheid policies against Palestinians.
“We are working to isolate apartheid Israel just as New Zealand helped to isolate apartheid South Africa several decades ago,” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “The big majority of New Zealanders are on side with Palestinians but our elected representatives still defer, in the most cowardly way, to apartheid Israel”
“It is the failure of western governments, New Zealand included, to hold Israel to account for its crimes against the Palestinian people that is behind Israel’s genocidal rampage in Gaza today.”
The details of the rallies and marches around the country are on our facebook page here. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064134091562&sk=events
John Minto
National Chair
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
