The Whanganui Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has today successfully petitioned the Whanganui District Council to become the first regional, district or city council in New Zealand to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The group presented two motions to the council today alongside a petition with over 2,000 signatures from across the Whanganui community – the largest ever received by the council. Also included were signed letters of support from 48 local businesses and organisations.
Organiser/Whanganui PSNA member Sophi Reinholt says “while collecting signatures at our local events we received significant support for action to be taken by our local council. Many people have been distressed by the constant and horrific news and images coming out of Gaza and. frustrated with the lack of international progress.” “We want it on record that Whanganui stood on the right side of history. It’s positive to see today’s decision reflect the attitude of the community”, says Jewish Whanganui resident Mark Russell.
Included in the motion passed by councillors today is a call on the government to also support a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza. “So far, there has been more rhetoric than action”, says Sophi Reinholt. “New Zealand’s joint statement with Australia and Canada calling for a temporary humanitarian pause is outdated and weak.” “We know from New Zealanders’ involvement in global movements across history that our voice matters and makes a difference. New Zealand can and should do more to take a stand against this crisis – silence is not a neutral position.”
“Today, our council has upheld human rights. Our hope is that this will encourage other councils, organisations and businesses to follow suit and put pressure on the New Zealand government to do what is right.” The final clause of the motion condemns all acts of violence and terror against civilians on all sides. Sophi Reinholt says that while this is an important milestone, there is still more meaningful change that can come from within the District Council.
Whanganui PSNA presented a second motion to the council today to change its procurement policy to align with the UN resolution 2334 which involves the council not contracting with a ‘list of companies identified by the United Nations Human Rights Council as being involved in the building or maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements’. “Boycott and sanctions have always been a powerful tool to apply pressure and end state violence. Backing up calls for a ceasefire with real, economic decisions is a meaningful avenue to spark change. There is also a moral obligation to ensure we are not contributing to the financing of Israel’s war on Gaza”, says Sophi Reinholt.
Nice to start the day with a good news story, it’s a pity that the other elected officials around NZ do not have enough of a conscience to make the same decisions.
More pitiful virtue signaling that is neither virtuous nor in any remote way meaningful.
You complain about Hamas actions against the Israeli invaders and are not concerned with the genocidal response by Israel then you moan when people with a conscience ask for a peaceful solution. You give the impression that you would only be happy in a world full of clones of yourself which would be a disaster.
Tautoko the Whanganui District Council for there stance with humanity towards the indigenous palestinians. Hopefully this will generate a reciprocal approach from other councils. Apartheid Israel rejected a hostage exchange because it’s more politically convenient for the criminal regime to have dead hostages.
Free Palestine
Great work by these folks, and the Whanganui DC. The request that people who respect human rights have is very simple. The Palestinians, the people who have lived for thousands of years on the land that ‘israelis’ want to squat on, should not have to worry about having their children raped and killed for fun by the ‘israelis’. Unfortunately, doing exactly that is what ‘israelis’ live to do. If a ‘two state solution’ can be found that stops ‘israelis’ doing what they always have, then that’s great. But it won’t- we’re going to have to find another way to correct this problem.
Accepting that the problem exists and needs solving is the first step.
No call for Hamas to release their kidnapped civilians from October 7th, including 5 American citizens? Must be a mistake….
Why on earth would alien home invaders- particularly American murderers- be released before the tens of thousands of Palestinians held in zionist dungeons?
Remember, Hamas are the poor defenseless innocent ones in this….they did nothing wrong….so say the protesters.
Those Americans have funded this war for years .Maybe when they are released they will inform their country how wrong they have been for the last 50 years .Sadly they are expendable to the Isralies so they may well be killed by IDF for political reasons to make Palastinians look bad .Remember they have already killed several hostages that were being released .
Those Americans have funded this war for years .Maybe when they are released they will inform their country how wrong they have been for the last 50 years .Sadly they are expendable to the Isralies so they may well be killed by IDF for political reasons to make Palastinians look bad .Remember they have already killed several hostages that were being released .
Next time they shit on you, Whanganui, show them you’ve got the goods – awesome work.
Congratulations to the(PSNA), for helping and making the our first local Council do whats right and represent the will of their citizens ,,,, for even those who favor Israel and want Hama’s to be gone generally do not support the mass slaughter of women & children the young & old ,,,,,,,
Normal people know it’s wrong to drop 2000 pound bombs into densely packed safe zones ,,,,,,,
They know it’s evil to deliberately starve a child,, and the Israeli made famine is that evil on a scale not seen since WWII Ghettos were put under siege,,, and then liquidated,,,.
They know it beyond cruel for Israel to deny entry and thereby access to anesthetics, antibiotics and other medicines,,, For the Women and children who Israel has
maimed, burnt and mutilated from their indiscriminate but also often deliberate and targeted Bombing, Shootings, Droning, and Sniping.
And Most People know that the mountain of evil and bad things Israel is doing will not defeat Hamas ,,, because it is not targeted at Hamas ,,, instead what is on display are the steps taken along the well worn road path used by the worst ever,among us in our short violent human History ,,, the path to ethnic clensing and Genocide.
Gaby is a nasty outlier and long term disgrace both to huamanity ,,, and many many Jews ,,,, who he calls Kapo’s.
gaby is a good in a disgusting way ,,, as he’s a excellent vile example of a ‘not in my name’ creep ,,,,
And I say that as a Aotearoan New zealander in solidarity to the Jews who are sick of being smeared by the co-opting of Zionists ,,, who pretend to speak for all Jewry,,, and align them with their Ideology and actions.
gaby speaks for the likes of himself ,,,, as found here …. https://isitgenocide.com
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Congratulations once more to The Whanganui Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa ,,, and the PSNA in general ,,, Well done 🙂