Latest news with #UnlawfulOccupationofPalestineSanctionsBill
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Palestine Forum Of New Zealand Calls For Safe Passage Of Madleen And Urgent Sanctions Against Israel
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand strongly condemns the violent interception of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel attempting to deliver essential humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza, by the Israeli military. We demand the immediate safe passage of the vessel and call upon the New Zealand Government to urgently implement meaningful sanctions against Israel for its ongoing war crimes and illegal occupation of Palestine. 'The Madleen was carrying life-saving aid to a population enduring unimaginable suffering under Israel's illegal siege. Its interception is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct attack on humanitarian principles,' said a spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand. The unlawful blockade of Gaza — now in its 18th year — has turned the region into what human rights organisations have described as the world's largest open-air prison. The systematic denial of aid, food, water, fuel, and medical supplies is part of Israel's ongoing campaign of collective punishment against the Palestinian people. Palestine Forum of New Zealand reiterates the following urgent demands: Immediate safe passage for the Madleen and all humanitarian vessels to Gaza. The New Zealand Government is to impose targeted sanctions against Israel, including an end to military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation. Support for the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill and pressure on Parliament to prioritise it for debate. Active support for international legal mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity. 'Aotearoa cannot remain silent while innocent people are bombed, starved, and denied medical care. New Zealand has a proud history of standing on the side of justice — from opposing apartheid in South Africa to advocating for nuclear-free policies. It's time our government showed the same moral courage for Palestine,' the spokesperson added. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand stands in unwavering solidarity with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Madleen crew, and the people of Gaza. It will continue to amplify the call for justice, dignity, and the right of return for all Palestinians.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Greens Call For Safe Passage Of Madleen And Government To Sanction Israel
Press Release – Green Party Weaponising critical humanitarian aid must stop. Shooting at innocent people lining up for kai must stop. Aotearoa New Zealand cannot remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza. The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel on course to Gaza, following the Freedom Flotilla being seized by the Israeli Military and urging the New Zealand Government to sanction Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestine. 'The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen and for the New Zealand Government to step up and sanction Israel for its violent occupation of Palestine and continued disregard for international law,' says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. 'The Madleen was trying to get much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, and has been intercepted by the Israeli Military in international waters. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. 'Weaponising critical humanitarian aid must stop. Shooting at innocent people lining up for kai must stop. Aotearoa New Zealand cannot remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza. 'I was on a peace flotilla for Gaza almost ten years ago and it pains me to still see the need for one all these years later. 'If we stand for human rights and peace and justice, our Parliament must act. The New Zealand Government must sanction Israel and can do so by supporting Chlöe Swarbrick's Member's Bill. All we need is the support of six Government MPs to make this happen. 'In September, Aotearoa joined 123 UN Member States to support a resolution calling for sanctions against those responsible for Israel's 'unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence.' 'Our Government has since done nothing to fulfil that commitment. Our Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill starts that very basic process. 'The Green Party stands with the Madleen and will continue to fight for the people of Palestine,' says Marama Davidson. Notes: In 2016, Marama Davidson was a part of the Women's Boat to Gaza which brought awareness to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted the crucial role of women in keeping their communities afloat, particularly in post-conflict situations. Standing Order 288 outlines the process for Member's Bills to bypass the member's bill ballot (colloquially known as the 'biscuit tin'), with the support of 61 non-executive members. With 55 Opposition members now officially in support of Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, the support of just 6 Government MPs are necessary to get the Bill onto the floor of Parliament. On 10th December 2024, Swarbrick wrote to all Members of Parliament asking their support for the Bill to bypass the ballot, and later asked the Prime Minister in the House if there would be any Government policy or position preventing MPs from exercising their democratic right to support the Bill bypassing the ballot. He said that he would have a 'good look at the Bill'. In the tenth emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 September 2024, NZ joined 123 other member states in supporting United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24 'Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory'. This resolution affirmed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's actions and presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called upon all states to comply with their obligations under international law, and, amongst other actions, called upon all States to implement sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against natural and legal persons engaged in the maintenance of Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence. This Bill implements a sanctions framework, duplicating the Russia Sanctions Act, to allow sanctions to be imposed by the Government against Israel in response to Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Bill implements some initial sanctions against Israeli Ministers, Israeli MPs who have supported the occupation, and military leadership, as well as sanctions on assets and services relating to arms and assets and services that are of economic or strategic importance to Israel.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Greens Call For Safe Passage Of Madleen And Government To Sanction Israel
The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel on course to Gaza, following the Freedom Flotilla being seized by the Israeli Military and urging the New Zealand Government to sanction Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestine. 'The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen and for the New Zealand Government to step up and sanction Israel for its violent occupation of Palestine and continued disregard for international law," says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. 'The Madleen was trying to get much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, and has been intercepted by the Israeli Military in international waters. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. 'Weaponising critical humanitarian aid must stop. Shooting at innocent people lining up for kai must stop. Aotearoa New Zealand cannot remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza. 'I was on a peace flotilla for Gaza almost ten years ago and it pains me to still see the need for one all these years later. 'If we stand for human rights and peace and justice, our Parliament must act. The New Zealand Government must sanction Israel and can do so by supporting Chlöe Swarbrick's Member's Bill. All we need is the support of six Government MPs to make this happen. 'In September, Aotearoa joined 123 UN Member States to support a resolution calling for sanctions against those responsible for Israel's 'unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence.' 'Our Government has since done nothing to fulfil that commitment. Our Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill starts that very basic process. 'The Green Party stands with the Madleen and will continue to fight for the people of Palestine,' says Marama Davidson. Notes: In 2016, Marama Davidson was a part of the Women's Boat to Gaza which brought awareness to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted the crucial role of women in keeping their communities afloat, particularly in post-conflict situations. Standing Order 288 outlines the process for Member's Bills to bypass the member's bill ballot (colloquially known as the 'biscuit tin'), with the support of 61 non-executive members. With 55 Opposition members now officially in support of Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, the support of just 6 Government MPs are necessary to get the Bill onto the floor of Parliament. On 10th December 2024, Swarbrick wrote to all Members of Parliament asking their support for the Bill to bypass the ballot, and later asked the Prime Minister in the House if there would be any Government policy or position preventing MPs from exercising their democratic right to support the Bill bypassing the ballot. He said that he would have a 'good look at the Bill'. In the tenth emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 September 2024, NZ joined 123 other member states in supporting United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24 'Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory'. This resolution affirmed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's actions and presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called upon all states to comply with their obligations under international law, and, amongst other actions, called upon all States to implement sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against natural and legal persons engaged in the maintenance of Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence. This Bill implements a sanctions framework, duplicating the Russia Sanctions Act, to allow sanctions to be imposed by the Government against Israel in response to Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Bill implements some initial sanctions against Israeli Ministers, Israeli MPs who have supported the occupation, and military leadership, as well as sanctions on assets and services relating to arms and assets and services that are of economic or strategic importance to Israel.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Joining International Call For Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Welcomed, But Sanctions Need To Be Imposed On Israel Urgently
Press Release – Justice for Palestine Israel is currently carrying out a genocide in Palestine, and the New Zealand Government has failed to take meaningful action to pressure Israel to comply with international law, despite the people of NZ repeatedly calling for it. Justice for Palestine welcomes the New Zealand Government joining 22 other countries and representatives of the European Union in calling for immediate full resumption of independent aid distribution into Gaza. In a continuation of a series of illegal acts of collective punishment over the past 19 months, Israel imposed a suffocating blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip in March 2025. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted and the population faces intentional mass starvation and famine. This act constitutes an unprecedented form of collective punishment and a stark violation of international humanitarian law. However, aid is not enough. It is the bare minimum. Justice for Palestine calls on the NZ government to join the governments of Canada, the UK and France in opposing Israel's renewed military offensive, threatening concrete actions in response, and threatening the imposition of sanctions in response to any further expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. But the threat of 'concrete actions' is not enough: Israel has been flouting international law with impunity, and New Zealand must urgently impose sanctions. Israel is currently carrying out a genocide in Palestine, and the New Zealand Government has failed to take meaningful action to pressure Israel to comply with international law, despite the people of NZ repeatedly calling for it. We urge the government to act decisively and implement sanctions on the state of Israel without delay. Imposing sanctions would ensure New Zealand adheres to its obligations under international law and lives up to its proud history of doing what is morally right in the face of human rights violations. The members' bill Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, which mirrors the Russia Sanctions Bill, has already been drafted. We call on the NZ Government to adopt the Bill without delay, so we as a nation can take concrete legislative measures to save Palestinian lives and uphold international legal frameworks that benefit all of humanity.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Joining International Call For Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Welcomed, But Sanctions Need To Be Imposed On Israel Urgently
Justice for Palestine welcomes the New Zealand Government joining 22 other countries and representatives of the European Union in calling for immediate full resumption of independent aid distribution into Gaza. In a continuation of a series of illegal acts of collective punishment over the past 19 months, Israel imposed a suffocating blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip in March 2025. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted and the population faces intentional mass starvation and famine. This act constitutes an unprecedented form of collective punishment and a stark violation of international humanitarian law. However, aid is not enough. It is the bare minimum. Justice for Palestine calls on the NZ government to join the governments of Canada, the UK and France in opposing Israel's renewed military offensive, threatening concrete actions in response, and threatening the imposition of sanctions in response to any further expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. But the threat of 'concrete actions' is not enough: Israel has been flouting international law with impunity, and New Zealand must urgently impose sanctions. Israel is currently carrying out a genocide in Palestine, and the New Zealand Government has failed to take meaningful action to pressure Israel to comply with international law, despite the people of NZ repeatedly calling for it. We urge the government to act decisively and implement sanctions on the state of Israel without delay. Imposing sanctions would ensure New Zealand adheres to its obligations under international law and lives up to its proud history of doing what is morally right in the face of human rights violations. The members' bill Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, which mirrors the Russia Sanctions Bill, has already been drafted. We call on the NZ Government to adopt the Bill without delay, so we as a nation can take concrete legislative measures to save Palestinian lives and uphold international legal frameworks that benefit all of humanity.
