Famine does not always begin with a failed harvest or a
natural disaster. It can begin with decisions: decisions to
restrict food, obstruct humanitarian assistance, destroy
essential infrastructure and deny a population access to the
necessities of life.
The situation in Gaza demands
that the international community confront an urgent
question: when the means of survival are systematically
undermined, can hunger still be treated as an unavoidable
consequence of war?
The deliberate use of starvation
against civilians is prohibited under international
humanitarian law. Food, water, medicine and humanitarian
assistance must never be used as instruments of collective
punishment, coercion or political leverage.
The
destruction of agricultural land, food production
facilities, water systems, bakeries and other essential
infrastructure, combined with restrictions on humanitarian
access, can devastate a population’s ability to sustain
itself. Where such deprivation is deliberately imposed or
knowingly maintained in violation of international law,
responsibility and accountability must follow.
For
Palestinians in Gaza, this is not an abstract debate. It is
a daily struggle for food, clean water, medical care and
survival.
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls on
the New Zealand Government to:
- Demand sustained
humanitarian access and the delivery of sufficient food,
water, medicine and other essential supplies into
Gaza. - Press for an end to policies and actions that
unlawfully deprive civilians of the necessities of
life. - Support independent investigations and
accountability for violations of international humanitarian
law. - Pursue meaningful diplomatic and economic
measures, consistent with international law, to prevent
further atrocities. - Work with international partners
to ensure civilian protection and a just and lasting peace
grounded in Palestinian
self-determination.
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Humanitarian concern without
effective action is not enough. Governments must use the
diplomatic, legal and economic tools available to them to
protect civilian life and uphold international law.
Famine must never become a weapon.
Palestinian survival must never be a bargaining
chip.
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand
stands for justice, human rights, accountability and the
right of the Palestinian people to live in freedom, dignity
and security.
We remember, we resist, we
remain.
