We must act TODAY to save Palestinians during the ceasefire
This is a test of humanity.
Today, we woke to the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire starting to temporarily halt the devastating 15-month genocide in Gaza. This is an absolutely crucial time for our government to act to save lives and investigate war crimes.
Here’s a really simple way you can help. You are needed to demand action to save Palestinians who have survived pure horror and to ensure that there is justice for war crimes and genocide.
Why do this now? The Rafah crossing has remained closed to aid deliveries since May 2024, when the Israeli military took control of its Palestinian side, halting Egyptian aid shipments to Gaza via this route. Medical evacuations have been virtually impossible.
There is no way to escape Gaza if you’re Palestinian. This six-week ceasefire allows the chance for escape.
Cut and paste these addresses into your email. Winston.Peters@parliament.govt.nz; Christopher.Luxon@parliament.govt.nz; Erica.Stanford@parliament.govt.nz
Address the email to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,
Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters,
Include any of the points below or just cut and paste. But the main thing to say is: The New Zealand government must grant emergency humanitarian visas to Palestinians in Gaza who have family in Aotearoa NOW. And the New Zealand government must demand Israel allow foreign journalists into Gaza to investigate war crimes and the deliberate targeting of journalists that has been widely documented.
From Grant The Visas: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, please issue an urgent ministerial directive that establishes an emergency humanitarian visa for Palestinians with family members in New Zealand, and a commitment to bring these families to safety in Aotearoa.Please demand that ‘unconditional access’ to Gaza be given to investigate war crimes.
For the last 15 months, New Zealanders alongside a coalition of charities, academics, and NGOs have begged the Government to urgently provide emergency evacuation and humanitarian visas to allow Palestinians in Gaza to re-settle in Aotearoa.
It is absolutely crucial that within the next seven days - before the Rafah Crossing is finally opened - that the government grant these visas.
There are thought to be approximately 300-400 people in Gaza who have family in New Zealand who could apply for such a humanitarian visa, if you do not grant these visas - we can, and will, provide all of the support needed if this government just acts with integrity and humanity.
Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine spokesperson, Cole Yeoman, says there is widespread support for a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians.
“This is not simply a call from Palestinians. This is a call from humanitarian agencies, churches, charities, and academics. There’s a groundswell of support for New Zealand to actually do something tangible to support the Palestinian people. This is something we can do that will truly make a difference,” he says.
World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says New Zealand has a track record of stepping up in humanitarian emergencies - we must prove this is true. “We provided humanitarian visas for Ukrainians when their lives were torn apart by war, and we assisted Afghans to leave and resettle in this country when the Taliban returned to power. The situation for vulnerable Palestinians is no different. Palestinians are living in a perilous environment, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes; children and families starving with literally nothing to eat; and healthcare and medical treatment nearly impossible to access. Kiwi Palestinians are desperate to help their family members come here. New Zealand can offer Palestinians a lifeline and we urge the government to step up, show compassion, and be a good global citizen,” she says.”
Two weeks after the Ukraine war began National MP Erica Stanford criticised the Labour government for “working at a glacial pace” to grant humanitarian visas yet she has not acted for 15 months to help Palestinians with New Zealand family. Within a week of her comments, a special visa category was announced to help Ukrainians. As of March 11, 2024, 1879 of these visas had been granted, each visa a lifeline. Still, Stanford and this government ignores Palestinians who are trying to survive a genocide.
It is crucial that this government demands that Israel provide safe passage for independent investigators and journalists to investigate the 467 days of horror Palestinians have been trying to survive.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli authorities to allow foreign journalists into Gaza.
It also urged the international community “to independently investigate the deliberate targeting of journalists that has been widely documented” since the war began in October 2023.
“Journalists have been paying the highest price – with their lives – to provide the world some insight into the horrors that have been taking place in Gaza during this prolonged war, which has decimated a generation of Palestinian reporters and newsrooms,” the group’s CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement.
According to a CPJ tally, at least 165 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
I call on the government to publicly state that this country will uphold the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
Now is the time to show who we are as a nation after we have acted so woefully to support Palestinians and shown so little courage in speaking out against genocide. We can change this awful legacy and return to who we are as a country.
That’s it (for now). Thank you so much and please share. This is an absolutely crucial time for us all to do what we can to save lives. There’s nothing more important right now.
I know money is tight but if you can please donate to any of the GoFundMe/Givealittle accounts that are supporting Palestinians right now. If you don’t want to donate via online fundraising - reply to this email or message me on social media and I’ll provide a New Zealand bank account or you that will be divided between families in Gaza.
Here are two families who desperately need support -
Ceasefire is just the start. Next the occupation must end and Palestine must be free. There is no justice without right of return for Palestinians. A ceasefire is only the first step toward liberation. End the genocide, end the apartheid, end the occupation.
Follow: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa, People 4 Palestine, Falastin Tea Collective, Justice for Palestine, Peace Action Wellington, and Grant The Visas.
If you can - make a submission against the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill. It is an attack on our human rights and will end our ability to stand against genocide while limiting free speech. Here’s a template.
Emails done, though since they don't have a scrap of humanity between the three of them it was probably a waste of time.
Thanks Emily for the prompt here but also your work on all things to do with “holding power to account”.