Aotearoa Palestinian Deported From Egypt, Other Kiwis Carry On March To Gaza
An Aotearoa Palestinian woman has been deported from Egypt today, while other New Zealanders and Tāngata Whenua have entered Egypt as part of the Global March to Gaza to try to deliver aid to starving Palestinians.
Thousands of humanitarians are making their way in convoys from all over the world to Palestine's Gaza border with Egypt, the Rafah border, to bring desperately needed aid and calling for an end of Israel's illegal blockade, which is a war crime and causing conditions of starvation and death.
In an Instagram video published today in Egypt, William Alexander from Ōtautahi/Christchurch urged the public to email Winston Peters requesting the Foreign Affairs Minister communicate with the Egyptian authorities to ensure safe passage for the Aotearoa participants of the peaceful aid convoy to Gaza's southern border.
Communities in Aotearoa are proud of our brave local activists who have made the journey to join the March to Gaza. Next week in Tāmaki Makaurau peace advocates will hold a vigil while the march to Gaza is occurring, calling for the urgent opening of Gaza's border and unhindered delivery of food and supplies to starving Palestinians.
Date: 16th June, 17th June, 18th June, 19th June
Time: Monday 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm
Wednesday 5pm - 8pm
Thursday 5pm - 8pm
Location: Aotea Square, Queen Street, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
In the past three days, journalists have barely managed to send messages to the world reporting the daily massacres by Israeli drones, quadcopters, bombs, as Israel has again bombed the internet services in the Gaza Strip, making internet access dangerous and leaving Palestinians reliant on E-Sims donated by people internationally through initiatives such as Connecting Humanity.
The Samoud (Perseverance) convoy has made its way from Tunisia through Algeria to unite in Egypt with activists from all over the world for a concerted effort to stop the genocide in Gaza occuring through Israel's illegal blockade and intentional starvation of 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Israel's Pre-Emptive War Illegal, Unjustified
Israel's unprovoked and extensive bombing of Iran yesterday is illegal under international law. There is no allowable claim of self-defence for a pre-emptive attack; such a claim would validate Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and the US's attack on Iraq in 2003. 'The New Zealand Government needs to be unequivocal in its condemnation of Israel now,' said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington. 'The bombing of Iran has no justification. The Israeli state appears to consider itself beyond reproach in its conduct: in the past six months, it has bombed Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran all while it conducts the most vile genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and daily attacks against civilians in the occupied West Bank.' 'No one believes Israel's lies anymore. Time after time, Israel's claims have been shown to be completely fabricated. We didn't buy US President George W. Bush's claims about Iraq having 'weapons of mass destruction' in 2003 that precipitated the US invasion and murder of 1 million Iraqi people; and we are not about to buy Netanyahu's claims about an 'existential threat' now. ' 'No one is buying Israel's false victimhood either: it possesses nuclear weapons and continues to be the largest recipient of US aid and weapons. Netanyahu has spent all of Israel's political capital with his craven determination to remain in power. The international consensus that has funded and facilitated the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands is crumbling. Now he is trying to drag the entire world into war. He will be the last Israeli prime minister because he will destroy the Israeli state with his self-serving violence and war-making.' 'Aggressive war cannot be tolerated. Genocide cannot be tolerated. New Zealanders want our government to take concrete actions: expel the Israeli Ambassador, sanction the Israeli state and recognise Palestine.'
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Putting Patients First: Government To Refocus Health System On Outcomes
Minister of Health The Government will introduce legislation to ensure the health system is more accountable, more efficient, and focused on delivering better outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'After years of bureaucracy and confusion, the health system lost its focus. The previous government scrapped health targets, centralised decision-making with no accountability, while every single health target went backwards meaning patients waiting longer for the care they need,' Mr Brown says. 'This Government is focused on delivery – getting the basics right, fixing what the previous Government broke, and ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.' Cabinet has approved a suite of amendments to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, designed to strengthen the performance of Health New Zealand and ensure a clearer, more accountable system. 'These changes are about improving health outcomes by making sure the system is focused on delivery, not bogged down in doing the same thing twice. That means better care for patients through a more connected, transparent, and effective health system,' Mr Brown says. 'The previous Government's reforms created a bloated system where no one was truly accountable for delivery. We're changing that,' Mr Brown says. 'We're putting health targets into law so every part of the system is focused on delivering faster care, shorter wait times, higher immunisation rates, and real results.' The current legislation is too focused on bureaucracy rather than patients, with multiple charters and plans creating confusion and fragmentation. These reforms repeal the health sector principles and health charter – cutting needless bureaucracy – while requiring each population strategy to give effect to the Government's health targets. Mr Brown says infrastructure delivery was one of the most serious failings under the previous Government. 'Too many builds were delayed, blown out, or never even started. We're addressing this by establishing a dedicated infrastructure committee and embedding infrastructure as a core function of Health New Zealand. This means the board can focus on lifting system performance where it matters most: for patients.' The Minister is also confirming changes to strengthen the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) and clarify the role of iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). 'Local IMPBs will continue to engage with their communities but will now provide advice directly to HMAC. That advice will then support decisions made by the Minister and the Health NZ board. 'These changes are about one thing – putting patients back at the centre. We're rebuilding a health system that delivers real outcomes, not just organisational charts.' The Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks. Notes: Key changes include: Establishing a new statutory purpose to ensure all patients have access to timely, quality healthcare. Legislated health targets to lock in accountability and ensure New Zealand's health system is measured and managed. Requiring all health strategies give effect to these targets. Stronger governance and financial oversight within Health New Zealand. Making the delivery of health infrastructure a core legislated function of Health New Zealand. Establishing a permanent infrastructure committee to carry out functions related delivery of physical health infrastructure by Health New Zealand. The Director-General of Health (or delegate) able to attend Health New Zealand board meetings to support monitoring. Ensuring simplified board appointment rules that select the best person for the job, based on skills and delivery. Clarifying public service integrity rules apply to the Health New Zealand board, CEO, and staff so patients know they're held to the highest standards. Removing audit requirements for the NZ Health Plan, aligning with other Crown entity requirements. Repealing the Health Charter and Sector Principles to reduce red tape and make things clearer for everyone. Enhancing the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) to provide advice to the Minister and the board of Health New Zealand, that will be taken into account at the national level. Clarifying and streamlining iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). IMPBs focus will shift away from local service design and delivery, to engaging with communities on local perspectives and Māori health outcomes. This legislation supports the Government's wider Health Delivery Plan – including reinstated health targets, a record $16.68 billion in funding, faster access to primary care, improved infrastructure delivery, and the recruitment and training of more frontline doctors and nurses.
1News
10 hours ago
- 1News
Israel hit by missiles as Iran retaliates for strikes on nuclear sites
Air raid sirens have sounded across Israel as Iranian missiles struck the country in retaliation for deadly Israeli attacks on nuclear sites and military leaders. The rumble of explosions could be heard throughout Jerusalem on Friday, and Israeli TV stations showed plumes of smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent missile strike. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The army said dozens of missiles were launched, and the army has ordered residents across the country to move into bomb shelters. Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least three top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. For years, Israel had threatened such a strike and successive American administrations had sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear program. Iran's supreme leader vows revenge for Israeli attacks ADVERTISEMENT In a recorded message to the nation broadcast as Iranian missiles flew toward Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the military was prepared to counterattack. 'Don't think that they (Israel) hit and it's over. No. They started the work and started the war. We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed,' he said. Israel says Iran has launched missiles An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Source: Associated Press) The Israeli military's Home Front Command has instructed people to move into shelters ahead of an expected Iranian missile attack. The army says Iran has launched missiles, and the safety order applies to the entire country. Israel's Channel 13 TV says the missiles are expected to take about 10 minutes to arrive. ADVERTISEMENT Israeli military briefing cut short by possible incoming Iranian attack, official says Israel's military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said that despite Israel's attack, 'Iran has capability to hurt Israel's civilian front in a meaningful way'. Defrin's briefing was cut short. An Israeli military official says this was due to an incoming Iranian attack on central Israel. The official spoke on condition pending a formal announcement. Israel claims striking an Iranian nuclear site in Isfahan; Iran does not immediately acknowledge The facility in Isfahan, some 350 kilometres southeast of Tehran, employs thousands of nuclear scientists. It also is home to three Chinese research reactors and laboratories associated with the country's atomic program. France says conference on two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is postponed French President Emmanuel Macron says a top-level UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians has been postponed because of renewed tensions in the Mideast. ADVERTISEMENT France and Saudi Arabia were due to co-host the conference in New York next week, and Macron had been scheduled to attend. Macron said Friday it was postponed for logistical and security reasons and because some Palestinian representatives couldn't come to the event. US fighter jets take flight to protect personnel and installations in Middle East American fighter jets are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, according to a US official. The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations. It comes at the same time as the Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean. A second destroyer also has begun moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House.
