The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has this morning written to the Foreign Minister Winston Peters requesting New Zealand initiate the call for an internationally enforced “no-fly” zone over Gaza.

PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says this would be a small but practicable step to blunt Israel’s continuing genocidal attacks on Palestinians.

“Gaza is recognised under international law, and by the New Zealand government, as part of the illegally Occupied Palestinian Territory. As such, Israel’s intrusion into Gaza airspace is illegal, and is elevated to a war crime when its aircraft attack Palestinian civilians there to further what the International Court of Justice has described as a “plausible genocide”.

John Minto says the United Nations has repeatedly said there are no safe places in Gaza for Palestinian civilians, where even so-called “safe zones” are systematically attacked as Israel terrorises the population to flee from the territory.

“Suggestions for a no-fly zone have been made in the past but there has never been a better time for a concerted international effort to enforce such a zone over Gaza”.

“In the week leading up to Anzac Day there is no better time for New Zealand to stand up and be counted.

“New Zealanders from past conflicts, including in that very region in 1917 and 1918, have died in vain if today’s politicians refuse to speak out to end the death and destruction in Gaza.”

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