It’s over 5 weeks for the reason that October seventh assault on Israel and the launch of Israel’s genocidal rampage in opposition to the Palestinian individuals of Gaza. However whereas our political leaders have been vocal in condemning struggle crimes that led to the killing of Israeli civilians they haven’t but breathed a single phrase of condemnation of Israel for the wholesale slaughter of Palestinians civilians, together with over 4,600 Palestinian youngsters.
Israel has now slaughtered the equal of all the kids in 17 average-sized New Zealand main faculties. In accordance with Save the Kids this surpasses the variety of youngsters killed in battle zones world wide annually since 2019.
And for all of the speak of going after Hamas, Israel Defence Drive spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari says in relation to the bombing of Gaza “The emphasis is on injury and never on accuracy”.
Genocide certainly.
However, unbelievably, outgoing PM Chris Hipkins and incoming PM Chrisopher Luxon have been deathly silent on this wicked prison behaviour in opposition to Palestinian civilians and the entire vary of Israeli struggle crimes in opposition to the Palestinian individuals which embody:
Collective punishment of an occupied individuals
Failure to deal with Palestinians civilians as “protected individuals” beneath the Fourth Geneva Conference
Depriving 2.2 million Palestinians of meals, water, gas, electrical energy, medical provides and so on
Bombing and attacking faculties, hospitals, ambulances and civilian infrastructure comparable to water therapy crops, sewage therapy crops and so on
Bombing densely populated residential areas murdering Palestinians of their hundreds (In accordance with the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel has dropped greater than 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the Gaza Strip since October 7, equal to 2 nuclear bombs)
Ethnic cleaning via forcible motion of civilian populations in Gaza
Ethnic cleaning of Palestinians from cities and rural communities within the Occupied West Financial institution by closely armed Israeli militias, supported by the Israeli military – casually killing any Palestinians that get of their method
Increasing unlawful Israeli settlements on Palestinian land
Making use of apartheid legal guidelines in opposition to all Palestinians throughout the complete space of historic Palestine
Persevering with its unlawful army occupation of Palestine
These are all struggle crimes and a few, comparable to genocide and apartheid, are crimes in opposition to humanity.
If Russia have been doing something like this in Ukraine or a European group wherever on this planet suffered as Palestinians are struggling now our political leaders would condemn the outrages and apply rapid sanctions and accountabilities as we now have performed for Russia in Ukraine. Such barbarism as is being displayed by Israel in the present day could be condemned as wicked, racist and genocidal.
However our political leaders are weak and spineless. One of the best they will do is repeat requires a “humanitarian pause” (a “tea-break” in Israel’s murderous rampage) and have known as on either side to “defend human lives” – a meaningless piece of drivel in response to genocide occurring earlier than our eyes.
Luxon lamely says “we haven’t acquired any recommendation to recommend Israel is breaking worldwide regulation”. Open your eyes Mr Luxon.
Refusal to sentence Israel’s political leaders for his or her murderous struggle crimes means Israel’s cowardly assaults on Palestinian civilians will proceed. Israel is aware of its genocidal assaults come at no political price the place New Zealand is worried. Israel is aware of that anti-Palestinian racism is alive and properly in New Zealand’s political management.
Our political leaders have made New Zealand complicit in Israel’s genocide in opposition to Palestinians.
I’m proud that Palestine Solidarity Community Aotearoa has joined with a whole lot of different organisations in backing a grievance of genocide by Israel to the Worldwide Legal Court docket.
Be part of your native rallies and marches going down throughout the nation this weekend. Residents should step up the place governments have failed.
