Latest news with #PSNA
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Invercargill To Consider Ethical Procurement Amid Scrutiny Of Illegal Israeli Settlements
Press Release – Invercargill City Council The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights … Yesterday (Tuesday 27 May), Invercargill City Council agreed to commission a staff report on a proposed change to its procurement policy, aiming to exclude companies involved in building or maintaining illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. 'We're delighted Invercargill councillors have taken this first step,' said one of the presenters. 'If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights violations.' If adopted, Invercargill would join Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Environment Canterbury, which have already aligned procurement with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. That resolution, co-sponsored by a National government in 2016, declares Israeli settlements a 'flagrant violation under international law' and a major obstacle to peace. It calls on states to distinguish between Israel and the territories it has occupied since 1967. A similar motion is being prepared for Environment Southland Council. 'Western governments have failed to hold Israel to account. Last year the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's 57-year occupation itself is illegal and breaches international law on apartheid and racial segregation,' the group member added. 'This is a small but important step to ensure we're not complicit. More must follow.' Invercargill PSNA spokespersons stressed the proposal is not a sanction against Israel, but a narrow ethical measure. 'This is about local responsibility,' the team said. 'We're grateful to the councillors who showed leadership by requesting the report and giving local residents a say in upholding international law, which protects us all.' 'We look forward to the report coming back to council and urge councillors to stand with cities across Aotearoa to ensure ratepayer funds are spent ethically, and in line with foreign policy.' The date for the council vote will be set once the staff report is complete.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Invercargill To Consider Ethical Procurement Amid Scrutiny Of Illegal Israeli Settlements
Yesterday (Tuesday 27 May), Invercargill City Council agreed to commission a staff report on a proposed change to its procurement policy, aiming to exclude companies involved in building or maintaining illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. 'We're delighted Invercargill councillors have taken this first step,' said one of the presenters. 'If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights violations.' If adopted, Invercargill would join Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Environment Canterbury, which have already aligned procurement with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. That resolution, co-sponsored by a National government in 2016, declares Israeli settlements a 'flagrant violation under international law' and a major obstacle to peace. It calls on states to distinguish between Israel and the territories it has occupied since 1967. A similar motion is being prepared for Environment Southland Council. 'Western governments have failed to hold Israel to account. Last year the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's 57-year occupation itself is illegal and breaches international law on apartheid and racial segregation,' the group member added. 'This is a small but important step to ensure we're not complicit. More must follow.' Invercargill PSNA spokespersons stressed the proposal is not a sanction against Israel, but a narrow ethical measure. 'This is about local responsibility,' the team said. 'We're grateful to the councillors who showed leadership by requesting the report and giving local residents a say in upholding international law, which protects us all." 'We look forward to the report coming back to council and urge councillors to stand with cities across Aotearoa to ensure ratepayer funds are spent ethically, and in line with foreign policy.' The date for the council vote will be set once the staff report is complete.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Israel Blocks NZ Aid To Starving Palestinians
Up to $29 million worth of aid provided by New Zealand is held up on the Gaza border by Israel, says the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa. PSNA says this aid is loaded on some of the 9,000 aid trucks sitting ready to try to lift the Israeli created famine. Three months ago, Israel cut off all food, medicine, fuel, and nearly all water supplies entering Gaza. Famine has begun and the UN has cited 14,000 babies at imminent risk of starving to death. It estimates 600 truckloads of aid a day is necessary to feed the people in Gaza. Gaza's own food production has been destroyed by Israel. Some 70 percent of Gaza is already occupied by Israel or under Israeli evacuation orders. New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston Peters last week said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is 'simply intolerable'. But PSNA Co-Chair, John Minto says that since then, as Israel refused to allow more than a trickle of aid into Gaza, and instead escalated its already horrific military onslaught, Peters' only public statement has been to offer condolences for the shooting of two Israeli diplomats in Washington. 'Our government's selective indifference to mass murder is making all of us complicit.' Minto says New Zealand has taken a lead in the past and must do so again. 'Our government should be advocating internationally for the enforcement of a protective no-fly zone over Gaza, and a multinational military protection for aid convoys so they can go into Gaza whether Israel approves them or not.' 'At home we should be sending Israel an equally clear message. We must send the Israeli ambassador packing and immediately sanction Israel by ending all trade and other links,' Minto says. 'As each day passes with no concrete action from New Zealand, our government is linking us with the most massive and ongoing war crime of the 21st century.' 'Our government will never live down it's complicity but might salvage some credibility by acting now.'
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
More Government Double Standards On Palestine And It Greenlights Escalating Genocide
More Government Double Standards on Palestine and it Greenlights Escalating Genocide The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is accusing Foreign Minister, Winston Peters of blatant double standards and giving it the green-light for its escalating attacks on Gaza. PSNA Co-Chair, Maher Nazzal says Peters publicly deplored the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington last week, yet he kept silent on the killing of nine Palestinian children of the Al Najjar family in Khan Younis in a single Israeli airstrike just two days later. Late last week, Peters expressed his sympathy to the Israeli government, tweeting on behalf of the New Zealand government 'Our thoughts are with their loved ones'. Nazzal says months go by in Gaza without a word of objection from Peters that Israel is still starving the whole population in Gaza and carpet bombing them. 'Just over a week ago, top genocide scholars from around the world were unanimous in assessing Israel's actions amount to genocide.' 'Mr Peters' sympathies are, at least, consistent. He has sided with Israel from day one to the present.' 'I suspect Peters is letting his prejudices run amok as his term in office runs out,' Nazzal says.'Surely many, if not most, government MPs will be sickened by his sympathy towards representatives of the Israeli government, and mostly silence on the deaths of innocent Palestinians.' Nazzal says PSNA reiterates its call for New Zealand to impose wide-ranging and immediate sanctions on Israel. 'Israel has been happy to ignore the half-heated and pro-forma posturing by western governments over the past 19 months. Tel Aviv will interpret Peters' tweet as a subtle but clear diplomatic signal that its ok by Winston Peters that it can escalate its carnage in Gaza.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Israeli ‘Nine Truck Photo-Op' Doesn't Slow Gaza Genocide
The Israeli government approved nine truck aid convoy into Gaza is a cynical photo-op, according to the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa. PSNA says the trucks are designed to appease and confuse both western news media and critics of Israeli genocide in Gaza. PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says the Israeli Prime Minister is openly reported in the Israeli media that leading backers of Israel in the United States are concerned that blocking food and other supplies entering Gaza is not a good look. 'These American politicians completely back Israeli war crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing, but they worry that US and UK war supplies for Israel are in jeopardy if it looks like Israel is starving an entire civilian population to death.' 'The UN estimated that 600 trucks a day are required for minimum food, medicine and fuel supply. This was before Israel destroyed food production in Gaza itself. Nine truckloads – even if a few more follow – will make no difference.' Nazzal says the images of trucks entering Gaza will dominate what he describes as obedient media coverage. 'The indications are that Israel is escalating the military onslaught on Gaza to unprecedented ferocity.' 'Israel has wreaked nearly every building in the Gaza Strip. This new phase is to kill and drive the population of more than two million Palestinians, men, women and children, either onto tiny reservations in Gaza or into Africa. This is happening in full view of the world.' 'Leading international genocide scholars have just announced that Israel is conducting genocide. There are no ifs and buts about their conclusion.' 'We just hope that our Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has been briefed on the most recent of Israeli war crimes and intentions.' 'He's scheduled to visit a number of South Asian countries next week. He'll be needing to end his silence on Israeli atrocities in Gaza and be able to tell foreign leaders what specific steps New Zealand is taking to help bring Israel to heel.'
