18 June 2026
PSNA is challenging the
government to obtain medical records held in Türkiye to
prove the truth of Global Sumud Flotilla activist Hāhona
Ormsby’s claim that he was beaten and injured by Israeli
guards in Israel in late April.
In a confrontation at
today’s hearing of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and
Trade Select Committee, Peters claimed Ormsby’s charges
against Israel were ‘bulldust’.
“But when other
countries, such as Italy, Malaysia, France and Australia,
are actively investigating Israeli torture against their
citizens, then the New Zealand government position, that
Peters’ claims against Israel are lies, is
untenable.”
“There are plenty of witnesses who
will testify that Israeli Prisons’ Minister Itamar
Ben-Gvir personally spat on Ormsby when he was held in
Israeli detention.”
The Palestine Solidarity Network
Aotearoa says Israel captured members of the flotilla on
international waters in the Mediterranean, and then deported
Ormsby, and other activists, from Israel to Türkiye, where
their injuries were medically assessed.
PSNA
spokesperson Rinad Tamimi says the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs needs to urgently request those records from
Türkiye. Sumud activists have so far not been able to
procure their own files.
“It might be embarrassing
for MFAT to go through diplomatic channels get real evidence
to show up their minister,” says Tamimi.
“There
were three Opposition MPs at the Select Committee, Deputy
Chair Damien O’Connor, Labour Foreign Affairs spokesperson
Vanushi Walters and Greens’ Foreign Affairs spokesperson
Tuiono Teanau.”
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“They should demand Peters
instruct his ministry to interview Sumud Flotilla
participants captured by Israel, get their medical records
from Türkiye and liaise with other countries, and the
International Criminal Court, doing real investigations of
Israeli violence.”
“If the Ministry finds
Hāhona’s claims vindicated, then these Opposition members
should make sure Hāhona’s trespass order from Parliament
is revoked, and he is invited to share his experiences with
the Select Committee, along with other New Zealanders who
were likewise illegally detained and beaten by Israeli
thugs.“
Rinad Tamimi
National
Spokesperson
PSNA
