Press release: NZ Jewish and Palestinian groups gather at Parliament to urge new Minister to call for ceasefire in Gaza

Monday, 4 December – For immediate release

On Tuesday, 5 December at 12:45pm supporters of Palestine will gather at the steps of Parliament to call on the incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, the new Government and all our elected representatives to take action and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Rt Hon Winston Peters takes up the role as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, as hostilities resume and innocent civilians in Gaza continue to be killed.

This is a time that calls for courageous and compassionate leadership. Ahead of the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday when the new government will speak to its policy agenda, Alternative Jewish Voices and Justice for Palestine have sent a briefing to the incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs on the actions the new government should take to address the immediate situation in Gaza and to play a role in establishing a new pathway to a just peace in Palestine and Israel.

In addition to calling for a permanent ceasefire, Alternative Jewish Voices and Justice for Palestine urge the Government to immediately:

● Call for all parties to act in accordance with their obligations under international law
● Demand the provision of sufficient humanitarian aid in Gaza, including the fuel necessary to
distribute supplies and restore hospital operations
● Call on Hamas to release all civilian hostages, and Israel to release
● Reject the provision of military aid to Israel
● Support the investigation and adjudication of all alleged war crimes.

“New Zealand must act now to support efforts to end the brutality in Gaza. But just as Israel’s disregard for Palestinian lives didn’t start on October 7, the need for the international community to stand up for Palestinian rights and to hold Israel to account for its breaches of international law will continue after the current violence ends. New Zealand has a role to play in establishing a pathway
to a just and lasting peace” said Justice for Palestine spokesperson, Samira Zaiton.

The human rights groups’ briefing urges the Government to take a principled stance, consistent with New Zealand’s long-standing independent approach to foreign policy, to support a peace process that addresses the root causes of the current situation.

Marilyn Garson, Alternative Jewish Voices Co-founder said: “Israel is carrying out the longest, now-illegal, now-apartheid occupation in modern history. In both Gaza and the West Bank, Palestinians have been subjected to daily infringements of their basic human rights including thousands of political prisoners being held without charge or trial. Millions of Palestinian refugees have never been able to return to their homes. There will be no lasting peace until our governments support a peace process that addresses these issues and respects Palestinians’ right to self-determination.”

Read the full briefing to the Minister here.

Contact: Samira Zaiton; Marilyn Garson

Justice for Palestine is a human rights organisation working to promote justice, peace and freedom for the Palestinian people. Justice for Palestine is a democratic, membership organisation that works to educate and inform New Zealanders about issues relating to Palestine and to advocate for New Zealand to contribute to international solidarity with Palestinian efforts to achieve equal rights.

Alternative Jewish Voices is a collective of Wellington and Auckland Jews. AJV works on three issues: Jewish pluralism in the community and its representation, anti-racism including antisemitism, and supporting Palestinians as they pursue their own liberation and freedom. AJV welcomes every step that normalises relations with Palestinian communities.