We owe Palestine our endurance 🇵🇸

Five things you can do right now! 🍉

It is Wellington anniversary today. I worked most of the day inside with a fan on me, feeling unwell and tired. My boys went to the beach with their nana. I’d started to feel better by 6pm and answered my son’s pleas for another swim.

We floated in the water together. He loves to play dolphin, lying his small body on my back, he wraps his arms around my neck. The water was so cool and clear. I felt rejuvenated and so much better.

In Gaza, there is no respite. I want to share a photo.

This was taken by Abdelhakim Abu Riash during the four-day “truce” in late November.

The joy, in the midst of genocide, just four days to not fear death from above….We can’t stop fighting, we who can swim any time. We who have peace.

We owe it to these children. Many will no longer be with us, killed by adults who do not see value in their lives.

1. Picnic for Palestine

I sent an email out to a bunch of news organisations about this and managed to get the date wrong in the press release by like six months. Which is quite a feat really. It’s not 25 July, it’s this Thursday - 25 January.

Please join us on Thursday 25 January from 12 midday to 1pm for a picnic for children and their families to stand in solidarity with Palestine's children and families in Palestine.

Come and share kai and stand with families in Palestine. Bring a picnic blanket to sit on and a cuddly, teddy bear or soft toy to leave at Parliament steps to symbolise the children who have been taken in the genocide.

This event is sensory friendly - we will be sharing age-appropriate conversation, colouring in and kai. There will be opportunities for children to share their feelings with politicians.

This event was organised in coordination with Justice 4 Palestine and by parents of young children who are against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. If you want to help on the day, let me know.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell told the U.N. Security Council on 22 November that the Gaza Strip is the "most dangerous place in the world to be a child”. Since then, Israel has killed another 5,000 children. Bringing the total number of murdered children up to more than 10,000 in just over one hundred days.

One child is killed every ten minutes in Gaza.

According to Save the Children, more than 10 children on average have lost one or both of their legs every day in Gaza since October 7, with many amputations performed without anaesthesia.

In a statement citing United Nations statistics, Save the Children’s director for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jason Lee, said the “suffering of children in this conflict is unimaginable and even more so because it is unnecessary and completely avoidable.”

“The killing and maiming of children is condemned as a grave violation against children, and perpetrators must be held to account,” he said.

The UN’s children’s agency has also warned of a triple threat to children in Gaza – not just the danger of raging conflict, but also of malnutrition and disease.

Cases of diarrhoea in children under age five have increased about 2,000% compared to before the war, UNICEF said. And 90% of children under age two are now subject to “severe food poverty,” UNICEF has said – up from 80% just two weeks earlier.

Most weekends there are events across the motu for Palestine. Check them out here.

2. Palestinian Solidarity Fundraiser

I’ve been horrendously busy trying to organise this one and it has finally come together. If you’re not in Welly, you can still donate through the ticket link!

Join us at Meow on Saturday February 10 for an incredible variety show to raise as much money as we can to support an end to the Genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.

We have live music, dance, poetry, burlesque, drag, comedy and so much more. Grab your friends and let’s show how much we care. A huge raffle will also be available. 

Every cent will go to the New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network. The New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network is an absolutely incredible organisation supporting global efforts for a ceasefire and a free Palestine. PSNA is committed to working with groups around Aotearoa and internationally to build and strengthen campaigns for a free Palestine. Their mahi is amazing.

I don't have to tell you how dire it is right now. One in 100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.

A child is killed every ten minutes.

119 journalists have been killed.At least 24,620 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 61,830 injured.

At least 85% of the population have been displaced. They are starving and terrified.

Sometimes it feels like there's nothing we can do to help - but we have an organisation here who is best placed to get real political change and they're struggling. They desperately need funds.

I’m still collecting items to raffle and it’s not too late to join as a performer.

Grab your tickets here and please share!

3. Share the South African Case for Genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice 

On January 11, 2024, South Africa presented it’s case against Israel on the charge of Genocide at the International Court of Justice.

The whole proceeding is here. The specific sections are below.

Genocidal Conduct - Adila Hassim

Genocidal Intent - Tembeka Ngcukaitobi

Jurisdiction - Professor John Dugard

Nature of Rights South Africa is seeking to preserve - Max du Plessis

Risk of Further Genocidal acts, Risk of Irreparable harm and Urgency - Ms Nigrali - KC

Provisional Measures sought by South Africa on behalf of the Palestinian People - Professor Low - KC

Request for Relief - Mr Ronald Ozzy Lamola

Here’s an important article that is also a great share: Why NZ should join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.

4. Email our Prime Minister and deputies - Again.

I have set a reminder on my phone to email daily. The main demands you should include in your emails are:

• Call for an immediate ceasefire by the Israeli Government.

• Call for the Israeli Government to provide safe and secure passage for humanitarian aid and medical support and supply.

• Officially recognise Palestine as a sovereign country.

• To expel the Israeli ambassador to NZ if ceasefire does not occur.

• Condemn the targeting of civilians and collective punishment and declare that there can be no justification for blocking civilian access to water, power and humanitarian aid.

Emails (you can just cut and paste this):

c.hipkins@ministers.govt.nz, c.sepuloni@ministers.govt.nz, n.mahuta@ministers.govt.nz, christopher.luxon@parliament.govt.nz, christopher.luxon@parliament.govt.nz, winston.peters@parliament.govt.nz, Marama.Davidson@parliament.govt.nz, James.shaw@parliament.govt.nz, Debbie.Ngarewa-Packer@parliament.govt.nz, Rawiri.Waititi@parliament.govt.nz.

5. Do whatever you can even if you only have a few minutes to spare:

• Read the handbook for action on better reporting on Palestine in Aotearoa

• Check if your Kiwisaver is investing in illegal Israeli settlements and Change provider.

• If you are concerned about the New Zealand Government’s legal obligations under International law to support Palestine, sign this petition today.

• If you whakapapa Māori and support an immediate ceasefire sign this petition.

• If you are a student, staff member or alumni of a tertiary education institution you can sign an open letter calling on Universities to stand in solidarity with Palestine. 

Don’t give up on Gaza. We owe them our endurance.