Open letter to NZ Foreign Minister Hon Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

Dear Mr Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,

We call on the NZ Government to demand the Israeli authorities end their inhumane blockade and siege and allow the international Freedom Flotilla safe and unhindered passage to their destination – Gaza 

We are pleased to announce that a team of three New Zealand doctors have been selected to join the international Freedom Flotilla which is due to sail for Gaza very soon.

Our Kiwi team of volunteer doctors are Dr Wasfy Shahin and Dr Faiez Idais to be led by Dr Adnan Ali.

They will be joined by hundreds of prominent civilians, human rights advocates and medics from around the world, plus international media personnel on this peaceful non-governmental, civil-society mission to challenge the illegal and inhumane 17-year Israeli naval blockade and siege of Gaza and to deliver urgently needed humanitarian and medical aid and services.

Our NZ medical team’s participation in this important humanitarian mission has been facilitated by Kia Ora Gaza and supported by many hundreds of fellow New Zealanders. We expect our government to resolutely uphold their safety and well-being.

This mission seeks to bring a message of hope and solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for peace and justice and to highlight demands to end Israel’s illegal siege and deprivation of Gaza, the bombing, and the occupation.

As with previous international humanitarian flotillas to Gaza, the current mission poses no threat whatsoever to Israel. However, in light of the urgent need for aid, Israel’s non-compliance of ICJ orders, and their illegal interception and seizure of previous Gaza-bound boats in international waters, we call on the NZ Government to urgently demand the Israeli (and US) authorities lift the siege, implement a permanent ceasefire and allow the Freedom Flotilla safe and unhindered passage to reach their destination and deliver humanitarian and medical aid.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Fowler QSM, 

Chair, Kia Ora Gaza.

John Minto,

National Chair,

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

Janfrie Wakim

Spokesperson 

Palestine Human Rights Campaign.

Maher Nazzal 

Co-founder Palestinians in Aotearoa Co-ordinating Committee – PACC