Palestine Forum of New Zealand (PFNZ) is calling on
communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to join the
Global Day of Action for Palestine on Saturday 10
October, standing alongside people around the world
demanding an end to the ongoing devastation of Gaza, the
dispossession of Palestinians, military complicity and the
failure to enforce international law.
The Global Day
of Action brings together communities, organisations and
movements around four shared demands:
1. END THE
GENOCIDE IN GAZA
Protect civilians, uphold
international humanitarian law, and address Israel’s
genocide.
The killing and suffering of Palestinians
cannot be normalised or treated as an unavoidable
consequence of conflict. Civilians must be protected,
humanitarian obligations upheld, and those responsible for
violations of international law held accountable.
2.
PROTECT PALESTINIAN LAND
End land seizures,
settlement expansion, settler violence and forced
displacement.
The dispossession of Palestinians is not
confined to Gaza. Across the occupied Palestinian territory,
including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinians
continue to face land seizures, settlement expansion,
settler violence and displacement. These practices must
end.
3. END MILITARY SUPPLY LINES
Examine and
halt transfers and relationships contributing to military
operations and violations.
Governments must examine
their military, technological, financial and institutional
relationships and ensure that no support, equipment,
transfers or cooperation contributes to violations of
international humanitarian law or human rights.
4.
ENFORCE INTERNATIONAL LAW WITHOUT EXCEPTION
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Reject
political selectivity and ensure universal accountability
for alleged war crimes and violations.
International
law cannot be applied selectively according to political
alliances. The same standards must apply to all states and
all alleged violations. Accountability must be universal,
independent and free from political double
standards.
Aotearoa New Zealand must act
PFNZ
says New Zealand has both an opportunity and a
responsibility to demonstrate that its commitment to a
rules-based international order applies
consistently.
“New Zealand cannot call for
international law to be respected while remaining silent or
passive when Palestinians are subjected to mass civilian
suffering, dispossession and violations of their fundamental
rights,” said Maher Nazzal, Chair of the Palestine
Forum of New Zealand.
“10 October is an
opportunity for people across Aotearoa to make four simple
demands clear: end the genocide, protect Palestinian land,
end military supply lines that contribute to violations, and
enforce international law without exception.”
PFNZ
is urging the New Zealand Government and all political
parties to move beyond statements of concern and take
meaningful action, including examining New Zealand’s
relationships and supply chains for any contribution to
violations of international law and ensuring that New
Zealand’s foreign policy is consistent with its obligations
under international law.
“This is not about applying
one standard to Israel and another to everyone else. It is
about applying the same standard to everyone,” Nazzal
said.
“International law either means something for
everyone, or it becomes a political instrument applied only
when convenient.”
Join the Global Day of
Action
PFNZ encourages Palestinians, tangata whenua,
community organisations, trade unions, faith communities,
human rights advocates and members of the public across
Aotearoa New Zealand to participate in events and actions
taking place on Saturday 10
October.
The Global Day of Action is a
collective call for solidarity, justice and accountability
and a reminder that silence and political inaction are not
neutral responses to grave violations of human rights and
international law.
Four demands. One message: justice
for
Palestine.
