It has been two years, 730 days of annihilation and the sheer heartlessness of starvation. This day and every day, we send our deepest aroha to our Palestinian whānau who live this nightmare.
With contempt we have watched this government’s degrading courtship of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—a convicted felon and a wanted war criminal—at the expense of law, rights, morality and human dignity.
Israel’s genocide has broken our hearts, but not our spirit.
Two years of witness and marching have changed us. Look at this movement: in two years, we have laid foundations that will last.
We mark this day with deep gratitude for the generous vision of our Palestinian leaders; for the wisdom of Māori tikanga and the invitation of Te Tiriti to co-exist in mutual respect.
We march within a broad-based movement that is forward-looking, anti-racist, built with aroha and resolve. We stand among professional groups who have adopted their Gazan counterparts, unions, faith groups, university and community organisations who have embraced Palestine.
All around us, we notice the number of people who have used social media to form sustained relations with Palestinian families in Gaza. In these two years, Gaza has become personal.
We hear the language of solidarity as people make connections between issues. We see people turn up across the issues, because they recognise that liberation can only be collective.
In our own community, we welcome each person who throws off the tribal and the nationalist, and falls in love with humanity. Join us.
It should not take two years to alert the world to a livestreamed genocide!
Perhaps those in power thought that we would get tired and give up. Instead, here we are on the 730th day, a larger and more resolute movement than ever.
We will move this world. Palestine WILL be free, and on that day, our Jewish community will begin to be free as well.
Alternative Jewish Voices with our friend, Sarah Cole
Sh'ma Koleinu - Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ) 