Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is mounting a ‘day of action’ in more than 25 centres across the country this Saturday (16th August) to protest what it calls ‘shameful dithering’ by the New Zealand government.
PSNA centres throughout the country will be demanding the government impose sanctions on Israel immediately because of its genocide in Gaza, according to PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal.
“New Zealand joined 24 European nations over this weekend to protest Israel’s latest announcement that it was going to occupy all of Gaza, and immediately planning to invade Gaza City,” Nazzal says.
“But those solely posturing government protests are not new. Foreign Minister Winston Peters was telling the United Nations in April 2024, that there was an ongoing human catastrophe in Gaza and that it was a wasteland.”
“He sternly told the UN that Israel must not invade Rafah, the western countries ‘red line’ for Israel back then.”
“Of course, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, completely ignored Peters, the then US President Joe Biden, and everyone else. That was 16 months ago back in the genocide,” Nazal says.
“Netanyahu will ignore this recent red line too. He will posture some public relations tweaks and call people anti-semitic.”
“But the self confessed Israeli war goals have always been to ethnically cleanse Gaza.”
“Only serious sanctions will stop the Israeli bombing and its constructed famine. None have yet been imposed.”
Nazzal says the most immediate dramatic measures the New Zealand government could take would to ban military use products and services exports for Israel, stop Israeli soldiers visiting here and close the Israeli embassy.
“But there are many other equally important steps, such as cutting off trade, instructing the Superfund to quit its Israeli investments, or ending bilateral arrangements, such as technology cooperation.”
“If it needs legislation to deliver some of these sanctions, then the Green Party has already drafted up a bill for sanctions on Israel, based on the Russia Sanctions Act.”
“It’s not as though the government lacks options. Though we are physically a long way from Israel we are closely entwined with it.”
Nazal says the government should support the recent call by the Irish President, Michael Higgins, for the United Nations to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter and send protected convoys into Gaza to stop the famine.
“Or Peters could join other countries to convene an emergency session of the Uniting for Peace resolution to send in protected aid convoys.”
“It is not as though New Zealand has ever been shy about sending troops to the region.”
Last year, this government sent soldiers to fight Ansar Allah (Houthis) to keep sea lanes to Israel open.” Nazzal says.
“And for decades, New Zealand troops have been patrolling Israel’s border zones to protect Israel.”
“This time, we should be protecting and helping the occupied and starving, and not backing their occupying tormentors and starvers.”
Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair PSNA
