NZSF complicit in Israel's war crimes in Gaza

NZSF complicit in Israel's war crimes against children in Gaza

Chair Gavin Walker , Deputy Chair Catherine Savage and Chief Executive Adrian Orr

New Zealand Super Fund
Level 12
21 Queen Street
Auckland 1010
New Zealand

Dear Mr Walker, Ms Savage and Mr Orr

I am gravely concerned that the NZ Super Fund (NZSF) shocking decision to not exclude Israel Chemicals from divestment blatantly violates the Responsibilities:

"ethical investment including policies, standards and procedures for avoiding prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community"

and Standards for Human Rights: -1. Support and respect human rights 2. No complicity in abuses..set out in the NZSF Responsible Investment Framework.

NZSF acknowledges that Israel Chemicals is a supplier of white Phosphorus to the US Defense Force and its deplorable 16-8-14 decision was deliberated and made during Israel's monstrous war, Operation Protective Edge, against the trapped Gazan population proves NZ to be an irresponsible member of the world community and a collaborator in Israel's war crimes.

On the 16-8-14, little Hamza Mus'ab Almandani, 3 ,of Khan Younis, Gaza was in hospital in excruciating pain suffering from burns from artillery shells made in the USA fired on 25-7-14, that discharged white incendiary rain on Gaza in hundreds of phosphorous-impregnated felt wedges as Hamza and his family slept.

You are no doubt aware that phosphorous burns are only contained by blocking off oxygen but the extreme pain and, as you can see, the horrific tissue damage endures.

Little Hamza spent months in hospital and the above photo was taken recently. This once happy boisterous toddler, is now mute from trauma and pain. . . thanks, in part, to you and unaware NZ investors.

NZSF should, at the very least, be paying for this child to have burns treatment in Italy.

Hamza’s suffering was DELIBERATELY inflicted in 2014 in blatant disregard of the 2009 UN Goldstone Report on Israel’s war crimes that condemned its illegal use. Israel is also well aware of “Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons, which prohibits use of the substance as an incendiary weapon against civilian populations and in air attacks against military forces in civilian areas.” Furthermore, Israel’s blockade on Gaza prevents escape by land, sea and air.

You, executives, sit in your safe and comfortable offices making criminally negligent decisions to pour NZ workers' monies into supporting Israeli companies that are complicit in the illegal colonisation and brutal military oppression of Palestine's indigenous people that has spanned 68 long long years. . . so you cannot plead ignorance particularly if you also consider the parallels in New Zealand's shameful history of violence against the Maori peoples.

Other Israeli companies in the NZSF portfolio that also have grounds for divestment are Strauss Group Ltd which has close connections to the Israeli military, particularly the vicious Golani and Givati brigades that participated in war crimes in Gaza in 2008/9, 2011 and 2014.

And TEVA Pharmaceuticals which has a plant in Har Hotzvim, beyond the Green Line making it a settlement factory.

You should also check if the Israeli oil companies in your portfolio are involved in the theft of Palestinian oil and gas resources.

NZSF 'has a passive $900,000 investment in Israel Chemicals' which ethically must be immediately divested.

I am certain that NZ members of the NZSF would, like all decent people, be horrified that their money is complicit in the suffering and deaths of Palestinian children like Hamza.

I look forward to hearing good news on this matter from you asap.

Sincerely
Dt Vacy Vlazna
Justice for Palestine Matters
Sydney, Australia

FYI:

Israel: White Phosphorus Use Evidence of War Crimes ...
www.hrw.org/fr/node/81821

Israelis rain phosphorous bombs over Gaza | The Electronic ...
electronicintifada.net/content/israelis...phosphorous-bombs...gaza/7965
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PressTV-Israel drops phosphorus bombs on Gaza
www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/.../israel-drops-phosphorus-bombs-on-gaz...

Photos of Israeli White Phosphorus attacks on UN schools in ...
https://friendsofpalestine.wordpress.com/.../photos-of-israeli-white-phosp...

ENDS

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