Whanganui Tramways Museum
27 Taupo Quay, Whanganui
Saturday 25 May, 2024
11:00AM
Saturday 25 May, 2024
12:00PM
Israel has been taken to the International Court of Justice for Genocide. The International Criminal Court is considering charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallan on Crimes against Humanity. It is now beyond question that Israel is committing Crimes against Humanity in Palestine.
Prime Minister Luxon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and the leader of the ACT Party David Seymour are in front of the court of Public Opinion for their lack of action on the Israeli Genocide. Come rally to call for the Israeli Ambassador to be sent home.
Former Shortland Street actor Will Alexander goes on hunger strike over NZ government’s complicity in Gaza genocide
When an Israeli tank hit six-year-old Hind’s car, she witnessed her family die in front of her. She managed to call the Red Crescent, which sent an ambulance. The Israeli forces then attacked the ambulance, killing everyone inside. Hind, the little Palestinian girl, was found dead two weeks later in the car surrounded by the decomposing bodies of her family members.
Hind was one of over 14,000 Palestinian children killed by Israel so far, not including those still buried under the rubble.
This story has moved Will Alexander, a former Shortland Street actor, to take action. At yesterday’s Christchurch rally in support of Palestine, he started his hunger strike and vowed to continue until the government stops supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“I can no longer stand by while my own government is complicit in an on-going genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. Innocent children are being killed in the thousands. Israel has violated international law for decades with full impunity granted by Western governments like New Zealand.”
Will has three demands for the NZ government:Withdraw NZ troops from the Red Sea (ie stop bombing Yemen)
Stop NZ company Rakon from supplying components for weapons used by Israel.
Resume and then double humanitarian funding for UNRWA.
New Zealand troops have been deployed to the Red Sea to support its ally, the United States of
America, in bombing Yemen for disrupting commercial shipments linked to Israel.
“It doesn’t matter whether our troops are cleaning latrines or pressing the button. Their presence there means that New Zealand is actively supporting the bombing of Yemen just to keep weapons flowing into Israel” said Alexander.
“Rakon is a multinational company with headquarters in Auckland that manufactures components used in bombs and missiles that are ultimately killing Palestinian children. It is a disgrace and something I think all New Zealanders would be against if they knew about it” said Alexander.
“Israel has rained down some of the most advanced weaponry on 2.3 million captive civilians for 7 long months. And not only is New Zealand supporting Israel in doing this, but we have also suspended humanitarian funding to UNRWA despite a famine caused by Israel’s months long siege on Gaza. We shouldn’t be pausing funding - we should be doubling it”, said Alexander.
NZ suspended funding to UNRWA in January when Israel made baseless allegations against the agency. Most donor countries have resumed funding since an independent report for the UN found no evidence for Israel’s allegations. UNRWA is one of the largest humanitarian organisations supporting Palestine through the Israel occupation. UNRWA also provides education and health care to Palestinian refugees in multiple countries in the Middle East.
Famine is one of the weapons of genocide being used against the Palestinian people by Israel. Only UNRWA has the skills, the capacity and the personnel to deliver the massive humanitarian aid needed for 2.3 million Palestinians across Gaza - funding other groups will not be effective in ending the famine.
“Christopher Luxon is choosing to send support for more bombs while freezing aid for starving Palestinians. It’s a disgrace”, said Alexander.
Israel is standing trial at the International Court of Justice, which found it is “plausible” that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention. Under the Genocide Convention, to which New Zealand is a signatory, New Zealand has an obligation to prevent genocide.
On 18 May I began a zero-calorie hunger strike to protest the NZ government supporting Israel's genocide of Palestinians.
Will Alexander is part of the Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).