New Zealand is wrong to designate Hamas a terrorist group

By
John Minto
-
67
1361

Today’s announcement by the government to designate Hamas a “terrorist” organisation is cowardly and wrong.

The United Nations and most of the rest of world does not give Hamas this designation and neither should New Zealand.

PSNA does not support any particular Palestinian resistance group – it is for Palestinians to decide the groups they support for the liberation of Palestine.

However, in the wake of the October 7th attack on Israel, and Israel’s genocidal response, New Zealand should be calling for an International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes committed on and since October 7th – including the crimes of genocide and apartheid rather than jumping the gun to blame Hamas.

At this point we don’t know the people responsible for war crimes on October 7th from the eight Palestinian resistance groups, and others, who took part in the attack on Israel. Killing civilians and taking civilian hostages are war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the ICC should find out and prosecute those responsible, in the same way the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and others involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The ICC should also investigate war crimes committed by Israel since October 7th, including the crimes of genocide and apartheid. On this basis arrest warrants should be issued for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and half his cabinet.

It’s important to point out that under international law Palestinian resistance groups have the right to take up arms against their colonial occupier, Israel, in the same way the French resistance had the right to take up arms against the Nazi occupiers of their country during WWII.

Today Israel is responsible for the longest military occupation in modern history – 76 years so far and counting. But the Luxon/Peters government stands with the occupiers against the victims of Israeli war crimes.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

It’s also important to challenge the lies told about Hamas there are probably more lies spoken about Hamas than any other organisation in the world!

One of these is the lie that the Hamas Charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews worldwide (For example this was one of the many lies in an opinion piece in the Post newspaper recently by Daniel Taub – in response to which the newspaper declined to print any letters)

The truth is that in the latest Hamas charter from 2017, the organisation says

“Hamas reiterates that its conflict is with the Zionist project and not with the Jews based on their religion.”

“Hamas is not fighting against the Jews because they are Jews, but against the Zionists who are occupying Palestine.”

“Hamas rejects the persecution of people or the undermining of their rights on nationalist, religious or sectarian ground.”

The 2017 Hamas charter also accepts the state of Israel based on 1967 borders – the precise same policy as the New Zealand government along with the US, the UK and most of the world!

The government is on the wrong side of history with this decision just as New Zealand governments were on the wrong side of history designating the ANC and PAC as terrorist groups and Nelson Mandela as a terrorist.

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67 COMMENTS

  1. Why did Luxon do this? Maybe the Mossad has him on tape raping kids. Maybe he’s just paid off. Maybe he just loves genocide.

  5. In the current context the decision to designate the Hamas political wing as a terrorist organization is the Realm of New Zealand’s way of tacitly indicating that it does not stand for a political solution to the conflict in Palestine, that it opposes the formation of a Palestinian state, and endorses the Gaza genocide. It knows that the United States of America and the State of Israel will hear that message loud and clear, while hoping that the people of Aotearoa will not.
    New Zealand’s political and military support for the Gaza genocide is a natural consequence of having successfully maintained a colonialist regime from the time when a New Zealand Premier, Sir Julius Vogel, openly contemplated his own war of extermination against Maori. Genocide is in the very bones of the regime. Atrocity lies at its evil heart.
    It is pointless to keep saying what “New Zealand should do”. For as long as it continues to exist the colonialist regime will do what it has always done. It will be “on the wrong side of history” until it is nothing more than history. The regime itself must be exterminated. We cannot go on opposing its brutal involvement in the maintenance of British imperialism, its genocide in Vietnam, its support for the apartheid regime in South Africa, its war crimes in Afghanistan and now its endorsement of the Gaza genocide without questioning the right of this regime to exist at all.

    • ‘The (New Zealand)? regime itself must be exterminated’?
      Do you want to elaborate on exactly what you mean by that Geoff?

      • Some sort of Collective anarchism would be my pick. – an AI could probably make such a system possible. I doubt humans are clever enough to manage it unless in a very homogenous society like the Swiss or the Japanese or the Scandanavians. . From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”

      • I can. The regime which contemplated the extermination of Maori (before deciding that mass immigration would be a more effective way to suppress and dispossess them) and is now supporting the Gaza genocide, must itself be exterminated. That is to say it must be driven beyond our shores. But the monarchists and colonialists among us should not worry unduly. If they choose to stay in Aotearoa they will be free to keep Charles Windsor as their own rangatira. However they will no longer be in a position to impose him on the rest of us.

    • From Hamas and their 16 page report/document “Our Narrative…Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”*

      “Hamas rejects the persecution of any human being or the undermining of his
      or her rights on nationalist, religious or sectarian grounds” ,,, unlike Zionists

      “The Palestinian people have always stood against oppression, injustice, and the committing of massacres against civilians regardless of who commit them. And based on our religious and moral values, we clearly stated our rejection to what the Jews were exposed to by the Nazi Germany. Here, we remind that the Jewish problem in essence was a Europeanproblem, while the Arab and Islamic environment was– across history – a safe haven to the Jewish people and
      to other peoples of other beliefs and ethnicities. ” ……

      ie 1 “. Mark R. Cohen, whose book Under Cross and Crescent reviewed the treatment of medieval Jews, writes that while there were significant restrictions on Jews in Islamic states, they did not suffer serfdom, supersessionist oppression, and demonisation like the Jews of Christendom.”

      ie 2) The Spanish inquisition ” In 1492 On July 30 of that year, the entire Jewish community, some 200,000 people, were expelled from Spain….The most fortunate of the expelled Jews succeeded in escaping to Turkey. Sultan Bajazet welcomed them warmly. ”

      ie 3) The christian Cruesaders –“1099 on July14-15 they captured Jerusalem, massacring most of the city’s non-Christian inhabitants. Barricaded in their synagogues, the Jews defended their quarter, only to be burnt to death or sold into slavery.”

      1e 4) The WWII Holocaust ,,,, See Germanys Nazis ,,, Ukrains OUN/Bamderites ,,, And Croatias Ustashi mass slaughter of jews,,, for the crime of being Jews . Done by Christians

      ie 5) The new modern sect of Christians who ‘support’ Israel ,,, to bring about Armageddon/end times ,,, where a Christian God will kill the Jews and send them to hell ,,, unless they repent and become Christians.

      * Here/s the Document by Hamas giving their side of the story ,,,,, Given their ‘collective terrorists’ designation it may now be illegal for their side of the story to be shared ….. https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PDF.pdf

      • Preamble: Nice sentiments but missing in action on Oct 7 … and the century prior.
        1. Cohen omits seventh century massacres and expulsion of Jews from Arabia, 1066 Granada massacre (amongst others,) persecution of Maimondies, expulsion of Jews from Spain by Islamic rulers etc, etc.
        2. Instigated by the State against traitors and heretics. Jews were still dhimmi under the Ottomans … forced resettlement of Jews under Sultan Mehmed II, Sultan Murad III decreed killing of Jews (rescinded as they were the wealth creators)
        3. Defensive wars to stop Muslim attacks on Christian pilgrims to The Holy Land
        4. al-Husseini’s Handschar Muslim divisions were part of that Ustashe. Even hardened Nazis were shocked at Handschar brutality
        5. Islamic eschatology forecasts the return of the Islamic prophet Isa, whom Christians worship as their Saviour Jesus who will break the Cross and kill “the pigs” (Christians.)
        Lots more I could add. Just ask.

  7. New Zealand has nothing to say about the true terrorists in the world, the greedy, corrupt, murderous regimes of the ugly west? We are supporting these maniacs, supporting arms trading, lawlessness, theft and mass murder. We are part of this sick empire death cult making up the rules as it suits them. The only thing worse than a homicidal cry bully is a homicidal cry bully cheerleader, which is what the NZ government is. There are no chosen people, there are no biblical rights, there is no magical end time. It’s all in your head. There is no justification for shooting children dead, ever. The courts await you, prison awaits you, and a life sentence is the least you should get for destroying this world.

  8. The terrorist organisation that worries me the most is the ACT, N Z First and the National party. Rather than condem the murdering Israel regime they seek to label a organisation that is trying to free a group of persecuted people. Shame on us.

    • ACT, Nats and NZF government a terrorist organization? You might just have serious problems with reality, Ken Young.

  11. And if hamas are terrorists
    What then of IDF? These dog soldiers of naZion? Murderers of uncounted children and their parents in a time frame so short it amounts to holocaust. What then of our stupefied politicians and media wrapped in fear; blanketed and blinkered to the true horrors of Gaza; chased into the silence of the lambs?

  12. The UN official said the October 7 attack did not happen in a vaccum, you seem happy living in a one dimension world but the adults can see all the circumstances and choose words that seem appropriate to describe the situation.

  15. There is something to be said in favour of Hamas. Unlike the New Zealand government, it has the fortitude to take a stand against an occupying power. It has the courage to face overwhelming odds, to fight and die for its own people. It has also served them well in the administration of civil society. The contrast with our own colonialist rulers could not be more stark. They cower before the military and economic power of the United States of America. They bully smaller nations on the orders of their imperial masters. They have set up a corrupt narco state ruled by tobacco and liquor companies. They have traded their peoples birthright for a mess of pottage. They are now committing genocide against the people of Palestine whose only defender is Hamas. Who are the terrorists here, and who are the corrupt of the earth?

      • Every member of the New Zealand parliament is required to give an oath of allegiance to the British monarch. The New Zealand government declares it will be in “lock step” with its “traditional ally” on all important issues. The British army may no longer have its boots on our ground, but the New Zealand government exists solely to give effect to the will of Anglo-American imperialism. This is a Quisling regime. Unlike Hamas it does not have “the fortitude to take a stand against an occupying power”. There is nothing to be retracted or corrected in my statement above.

  16. New Zealand used to list the Al Qassam Brigades as terrorists ,,, even though they represented violent resistance to a illegal violent occupation,,,, which is legal under International law…..

    But at least we were more legitimate than the United States, Canada, and Australia ,,,, in that we were only designating those who directly engaged in violence as “Terrorists”.

    In designating Al Qassam terrorists our police gave their research and logical reasons why the other non-violent sectors of Hamas were not included as terrorists/ terror groups ,,,, So I’ll quote the relevant parts of their findings and decision back then (around 2010) ,,, which has now been changed for Dirty Political Reasons ….

    “Hamas is divided into three main wings: political, social services (education, health
    and welfare) and military.”

    The political wing ” won the Palestinian Authority legislative elections in 2006″

    “There is a clear separation in the leadership between Hamas’ political wing and the Brigades; Jane’s reports that this is increasing”

    The political wing of Hamas provides a wide range of Social services “Hamas funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens and sports leagues.”

    Not to mention as the Governing body in Gaza all public servants effectively are employed by them….

    Now I may disagree with Al Qassam fighters being labeled illegitimate terrorists ,,,, but I can understand it,,,,, just as I can understand and be sure that the Nazis did not designate partisans like the French Resistance as legitimate resistance ,,, as the saying goes, ‘One mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist’ .

    But what is wrong,,, and rather sick,,, is Luxon, Seymor, Winstin, Judith Collins etc ,,,all designating and pretending that a Hamas health worker is a terrorist ,,,

    ,,,, that a Hamas kindergarten teacher is a terrorist

    ,,,, and their ladies cooking and working in soup kitchens are terrorists

    …. all the orphanage workers are terrorists

    Their sanitation workers are terrorists ,,,

    They are all terrorists ,,,,

    ,,, This is not only factually wrong ,,, it stinks of Zionist propaganda.

    Our Govt is designating and describing non violent people as terrorist ,,,, yet they wont call things like deliberately starving a population that’s 50% children a war crime ,,, or attacking health workers and hospitals while blockading medical supplies, no war crime to see there either apparently.

    Israel snipers shooting children in the head,,,, Israel dropping 2000 pound Bombs on refugee camps ,,,, Israel Bombing the ‘safe areas’ that they instructed civilians to crowd into ,,, No Israel war crimes anywhere that Luxon and co can see.,,,,

    because Israels fighting all those Hamas terrorists ,,, they can bomb that soup kitchen, school, hospital, safe area etc etc ,,,, with our ‘war on terror’ blessing.

    https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/statement-of-case-izz-al-din-al-qassam-brigades-terrorist-entity-11-oct-2010.pdf

  17. So, Martyn, if the move is bad and cowardly, how come the Iranian community in Christchurch supports it?

    I am in contact with one of their community leaders and she said it was a good thing. She said that Iran fund and arm HAMAS.

    Hezbollah and the Islamic Republican Guard Corps, which answers direct to the Supreme Ayatollah are also terrorist organizations. I have found that I.R.G.C. often fire into Women Life Freedom protests.

    • Apologies Martyn. I meant John Minto.

      I assume John has met the Iranian community in the past? Nice people and very approachable. He would understand why they are not keen on HAMAS if he talked to them.

      Also HAMAS utter reject Israel’s existence in any form. Whilst HAMAS utterly rejects Israel’s existence in any form, peace is not likely. Also, please read the “The position towards Occupation and political solutions” segment in the link below.

      https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-2017-document-full

      • RG, with all the information that already exist about apartheid Israel any sane person that has an ounce of humanity would agree that apartheid Israel doesn’t have the right to go around and genocide another ethnic group so yes I agree with Hamas that in its current form this belegent state shouldn’t exist’

        And Iran support for Arab nations in its region is there business similarly how the US funds apartheid Israel to commit atrocities across the region the hypocrisy and this exceptionalism in your statement is a contributor to the genocide against the indigenous Palestinians.

        The largest financier to Hamas isn’t the Iranians if ever they do give significant support however Qatar is the primary funder Iran gives moral support and Hezbollah doesn’t take orders from Iran but support them militarily similarly how the west support apartheid Israel.

    • Rob, you have found an Iranian who wants to designate Hamas as a terrorist entity. You could also find an Iranian who wants the Pahlavi dynasty to be returned to power, and failing that for Joe Biden to drop a nuclear bomb on Tehran. But that proves nothing except for the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran has some serious enemies amongst its own people. Some principled, and others simply murderous collaborators with Israel and the US.
      I have no problem with the IRGC. When I was in Iran I found them to be fair, reasonable and humane people. Not at all trigger happy. Once having been apprehended trespassing on an IRGC base I had reason to be grateful that was the case.
      Most Iranians support their government’s stand on the Palestinian right to self-determination. Even the vast majority of those who are critical of other government policies are in solidarity with the government on the Palestine question.

    • Yes, yes, everyone know about these ‘iranian’ terrorists. ISIS and the MEK often commit terrorist attacks against the Iranian people.

  18. WikipediaThe Free Encyclopedia

    Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident

    Coordinates: 31°30′9.95″N 34°24′52.34″E
    Page extended-protected
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Rashid_humanitarian_aid_incident

    International Reaction [in alphabetical order]
    African Union: Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat released a statement saying he “strongly condemns an attack by Israeli forces, that killed and wounded more than 100 Palestinians seeking life-saving humanitarian aid”.[104]
    Algeria: Algeria proposed a motion to the United Nations Security Council to release a statement condemning the massacre, which was blocked by the United States.[105]
    Arab League: The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, condemned the massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces.[106]
    Australia: Australian foreign minister Penny Wong stated, “Australia is horrified by today’s catastrophe in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has led to it. These events underscore why for months Australia has been calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.”[107]
    Belgium: Belgian deputy prime minister Petra de Sutter said she was horrified by the news of the “massacre”.[108]
    Brazil: Brazil condemned the killings, stating that it appeared Israel’s operation had no “ethical or legal limits”.[109]
    Canada: Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly described the incident as “a nightmare” and called for an end to fighting.[110]
    China: foreign minister Mao Ning said that “China urges the relevant parties, especially Israel, to cease fire and end the fighting immediately, earnestly protect civilians’ safety, ensure that humanitarian aid can enter, and avoid an even more serious humanitarian disaster.”[108]
    Colombia: Colombian president Gustavo Petro announced the country would cease importing Israeli weapons after the incident,[111] and he also made a statement, saying: “Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu. This is called genocide and recalls The Holocaust. The world must block Netanyahu,”[112]
    Egypt: Egypt condemned the Israeli forces’ targeting of Palestinians waiting for aid.[108]
    European Union: Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, said Israel’s depriving food from Palestinians was a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and described the incident as “totally unacceptable carnage”.[60][113] Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, stated she was “deeply disturbed” and called for a full investigation.[114]
    France: France said that Israeli soldiers firing upon civilians attempting to access food was unjustifiable.[115] French president Emmanuel Macron stated, “Deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers.”[36]
    Germany: Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, wrote, “The reports from Gaza shock me. The Israeli army must fully explain how the mass panic and shooting could have happened.”[36]
    India: The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “Such loss of civilian lives and the larger humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be a cause for extreme concern”.[116]
    Iran: authorities described the attack as a “barbaric attack by the Zionist regime”.[117]
    Italy: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated, “The tragic deaths in Gaza demand an immediate ceasefire… We strongly urge Israel to protect the people in Gaza and to rigorously ascertain facts and responsibilities”.[118] Prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed “deep dismay and concern.”[108]
    Jordan: The ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement condemning the attack, saying: “We condemn the Israeli occupation forces’ brutal targeting of the gathering of Palestinians who were waiting for aid on the Nabulsi roundabout near Al-Rashid Street in Gaza.”[108]
    Lebanon: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants said the incident fell “within the framework of the policy of mass starvation and extermination of the Palestinian people, which drives them to despair and adds fuel to the fire.”[112]
    Malaysia: The foreign ministry stated, “The cowardly action of Israel targeting Palestinians, including women and children, is not only illegal under international law, but also a blatant violation of the provisional measures handed down by the International Court of Justice”.[119]
    Oman: The Omani Foreign Ministry called the attack a violation of international law and “continuation of the policy of extermination”.[120]
    Portugal: Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinho stated: “Deeply shocked by the death in Gaza of over 100 people while waiting to receive aid… We call again for an urgent immediate ceasefire [and] for safe access to humanitarian aid, in compliance with ICJ provisional measures”[121]
    Qatar: The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, “Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the heinous massacre committed by the Israeli occupation, against defenseless civilians who were waiting for humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza.”[122]
    Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia said it rejected violations of humanitarian law by any side, under any circumstance, and called for the international community to pressure Israel into opening secure humanitarian corridors for the Gaza Strip.[108]
    Spain: Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares wrote, “The unacceptable nature of what happened in Gaza, with dozens of Palestinian civilians dead as they were waiting for food, underlines the urgency of a ceasefire”.[123]
    South Africa: The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated, “South Africa condemns the massacre of 112 Palestinians and the injury of hundreds more as they sought life-saving aid. This latest atrocity is another breach of international law and in breach of the binding provisional orders of the International Court of Justice.”[124]
    Turkey: The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a crime against humanity and “evidence of Israel’s intention to destroy the entire Palestinian population”.[125]
    United Arab Emirates: The UAE foreign ministry stated it “strongly condemns the targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of a gathering of thousands of Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip”.[36]
    United States: The United States vetoed a UN Security Council (UNSC) statement that would have condemned Israel for the Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident.[126] The United States Department of State expressed condolences for the people who were killed or injured, and spokesperson Matthew Miller said they were in touch with the Israeli government and pressing them for answers.[62] President Joe Biden told reporters that his administration was checking two competing versions of the incident, and added that the event would complicate ceasefire talks.[127] Vice President Kamala Harris also sharply criticized Israel for the crisis caused by this and other actions by the Israeli government.[128] On 1 March, Joe Biden stated that the United States would begin delivering civilian aid to Gaza via airdrops.[129]
    Yemen: Yemen has said the killings amount to “war crimes and the collective punishment of innocent people”.[108]

    New Zealand’s name is missing from this list of Nations condemning Israel’s attack on civilians waiting for food aid. We need to be listed under ‘A’ for ‘Arseholes’

    • ‘A’ New Zealand for cutting off aid, helping to create the conditions allowing the Israeli supremacists to massacre starving civilians.

  19. Right from the very beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza, journalists and interviewers were directing questions at Israeli government officials, asking; “Who will rule Gaza after the war is over?”

    The answer to that question is becoming clearer; 

    In his State Of The Union Address US president Joe Biden announced that the US is building a temporary pier to speed the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The aid delivered across this pier aid will be handed to Israel to distribute. This is a sick joke. We know how Israel delivers aid to Gaza, either not at all, or with guns and tank fire.
    For decades since the end of WWII the US set up Israel as their unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East to discipline the oil rich Arab countries.
    The genocide in Gaza has seen the rulers of the Arab states that were seeking to collaborate with Israel are turning their back on Israel
    The US puppet state of Israel is failing. The US will have to take direct control of their colonial project in the Middle East

    The temporary pier will become a permanent wharf, the permanent wharf will become a US navel base, the US base will control Gaza.

    Who will rule Gaza after the war?

    The US will

  20. Belgium wants to be heard in the case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib made the announcement on Monday.

    “Belgium wishes to participate and share its interpretation of Article 2 of the 1948 Convention,” which explains in detail how the concept of genocide should be understood. “It is not a question of taking sides for or against one party or the other, but of strengthening the universal character of the international conventions to which states are parties.”

    The specific content of this Belgian intervention, which may still be months away, has yet to be developed. Lahbib insists that Belgium will stress the importance of respect for international law.

    Funny that. New Zealand was very quick to send a top team of lawyers from this country to be heard in the case brought by Ukraine against Russia over allegations of genocide made by Russia.
    Hypocrisy much.

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