Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has today filed a referral to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. It accuses four New Zealand government ministers and two business leaders of criminal complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by assisting Israel’s mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chairs, John Minto and Maher Nazzal say the referral carefully outlines a case that these six individuals should be investigated by the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC for the contributions they have knowingly made to Israel’s crimes in Gaza.
“The 103-page referral document was prepared by a legal team which has been working on the case for many months. It is legally robust and will provide the Prosecutor of the ICC more than sufficient documentation to begin their investigation.”
“This is a grave step which we have not taken lightly” Minto and Nazzal says. “But the government’s ongoing and meaningful support for Israel, despite its horrendous war crimes, is not only egregious to most New Zealanders, but is also criminal conduct under international law.”
Minto and Nazzal say the referral follows a ‘letter of demand’ issued to the government in 2024 outlining the actions that a reasonable government would take to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, and the actions the government should take to avoid criminal complicity with Israel.
“For 20 months these political and business leaders have supported Israel to commit crimes which have shocked the human conscience.”
“This has brought shame on the whole country.”
“Even today, Palestinians – mostly women and children, are being killed, and the key individuals who have helped to make this nightmare possible must themselves be held to account.”
“We believe this is the first time New Zealand political and business leaders have been referred to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We hope it is the last.”
Two points of explanation:
Genocide: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, top international genocide scholars and the United Nations Special Committee to investigate Israel’s practices have all condemned Israel’s actions as genocide.
Individual criminal responsibility: Under the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court these six people are individually criminally responsible for their actions and inactions irrespective of their positions as elected politicians or appointed business leaders.
The documents related to the ICC referral are here:
The six people we have referred to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court are:
New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon:
Over the course of Israel’s war on Gaza Mr Luxon has repeatedly justified or downplayed Israel’s criminal conduct, including by describing its violence as self-defence, and only supporting a desperately needed ceasefire on Israel’s terms. He has allowed likely exports from New Zealand of missile componentry for use by Israel in striking civilians, and overseen New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine from entering Gaza.
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters:
While Israel has flagrantly breached orders by the International Court of Justice meant to prevent genocide in Gaza, Mr Peters has projected to the world New Zealand’s warm and friendly relations with Israel without any censure or criticism for its actions. He has consistently disregarded or downplayed Israel’s criminal conduct. Alongside Mr Luxon, Mr Peters is also responsible for allowing likely exports from New Zealand of missile componentry for use by Israel in striking civilians, and he has overseen New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine from entering Gaza.
New Zealand Minister for Space and Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC:
Ms Collins has approved recent Rocket Lab launches of geospatial intelligence satellites for US company BlackSky Technologies. The satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Ms Collins allowed these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances. As Minister of Defence, she is also responsible for New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine.
New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Hon David Seymour:
Mr Seymour, as leader of one of the three coalition partners in the New Zealand government, has firmly supported Israel’s violence against the people of Gaza under the pretext of self-defence, and unequivocally denied Israel’s breaches of international law and its commission of genocide.
Rocket Lab Chief Executive Officer Sir Peter Beck:
Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology. These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances.
Rakon Limited Chief Executive Officer Dr Sinan Altug:
Despite vast weapons transfers from the United States to Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza, Rakon has continued with its longstanding supply of crystal oscillators to US arms manufacturers for use in guided missiles which are then available to Israel for the bombing of Gaza, as well as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran with consequential massive loss of life. Rakon’s claims that it has no responsibility over how these ‘dual-use’ technologies are used are not credible.
