PSNA Newsletter No 107 - October 26 2023
26 Whiringa-ā-nuku 2023
26 October 2023
Newsletter No 107
Kia ora koutou,
All out for Gaza again this weekend!
The slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military has reached new levels of cruelty and barbarity.
As we prepare this newsletter, more than 6,500 Palestinians civilians have been killed and over 2,700 children as Israel rains death and destruction on the people of Gaza.
It’s barely believable that our government has condemned the killing of Israeli civilians, which we all have, but has refused to speak out to condemn Israel’s collective punishment of Gazan civilians – which is also a war crime.
There is a broad movement developing across the world to condemn all war crimes and to demand a ceasefire in the Israel/Gaza war.
Details of rallies and marches this weekend
Check out the PSNA Facebook events page here for any additions.
Auckland
2:00 pm
Aotea Square, Queen Street, Auckland
https://www.facebook.com/events/316429201025891
Hamilton
1:00 pm
End of Wairere Drive and Naylor Street, Hillcrest (opposite Flynn Park), Hamilton
https://www.facebook.com/events/1917002302026812
Napier
TBA
New Plymouth
Sunday October 29th
1:00 – 2:00 pm
The Landing, 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth
https://www.facebook.com/events/1056402595490031
Palmerston North
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North
https://www.facebook.com/events/169240042919999
Whanganui
11:00 am
Tram Shed, Taupo Quay, Whanganui
https://www.facebook.com/events/639148628384297
Wellington – Justice for Palestine
2:00 pm
Assemble in Civic Square then march to parliament
https://www.facebook.com/events/342435891630765
Nelson
10:30 am
1903 Square, Upper Trafalgar Street, Nelson NZ
Rally and March
https://www.facebook.com/events/1371726043432692
Christchurch
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
https://www.facebook.com/events/1315415542435087
Dunedin
2:00
Otago Museum Reserve, 363 Great King Street
https://www.facebook.com/events/850780189828984
Four few things you can do right now with just a few clicks… tick them off as you do them!
1. Attend your local protest this weekend!
2. Post the FB event for your local rally on your social media pages
3. Copy and paste the letter to the caretaker PM and the incoming PM now. Copy in your local MP.
Chris Hipkins
Caretaker Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister elect
Christopher.luxon@parliament.govt.nz
Kia ora kōrua,
Grow some moral fibre quickly – Palestinians can’t wait
We realise there is a transition between governments occurring, but the people of Gaza can’t wait for the help they need.
The situation in Gaza is extremely grave, as approximately 2.3 million Palestinians are facing an intentional Israeli humanitarian blockade with severe shortages of water, food, electricity, medicine, and essential healthcare services. This crisis has been exacerbated by relentless Israeli attacks which have rained death and destruction on the people of Gaza for more than two weeks – and they are intensifying.
The death toll for Palestinians in Gaza is now over 5,700 with more than 2,700 Palestinians among the dead.
New Zealand has condemned the attack on Israeli civilians which is a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention but has not uttered a peep of criticism of Israel’s collective punishment of the people of Gaza and slaughter of its inhabitants – also a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Why are you following such a cowardly, complicit path? Why have you not called for an immediate ceasefire and demanded United Nations protection for Palestinian civilians?
Calling for a “humanitarian pause” is like calling for a tea break before the slaughter of Palestinians continues..
Take action now based on our values rather than those of the racist, apartheid state of Israel.
(your name)
4. Tweet these messages to the All Black rugby team before the World Cup Rugby Final this weekend.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #RWC2023 #RWCFinal
Palestinians are doing it hard – send a message of solidarity to the people of Gaza! Our gutless government stands with Israel @AllBlacks stand with Palestine!
2,700 Palestinian children killed as Israel rains death and destruction on Gaza - @AllBlacks @Springboks Stand up for kids – stand up for Palestine!
@AllBlacks @Springboks stand up for freedom and justice – stand up for Palestine
@rugbyworld cup – wear Palestinian colours to the RWC final – stand up against brutality and oppression.
There are a few more ideas you can find here in the South African solidarity movement campaign.
@AllBlacks @Springboks stand up against apartheid in Israel – show solidarity with the Palestinian people
More ideas for messages and images can be found here (South African activist messages) and adapted
PSNA in the Gisborne Herald today
The Gaza war by the numbers…
In these grim times here is something to lighten the mood..
Email to PSNA National Chair John Minto from Blinky Bill:
Dear " John" letter
? are you an Iranian proxy menace, Mr Minto.....Blinky Bill and his mates, know garbage well, as like themselves, you live up a gum tree.
Number One Fuck Wit in NZ today, congratulations.....Sadam Minto.
Blinky Bill
QLD
Email response from John Minto:
Hi Blinky - thanks for the note - we will put your message in our newsletter to show the depth of arguments we are up against.
Response from Blinky:
A good idea Sadam Minto
Photo review of a few of last weekend’s protests around the country…
New Plymouth
Hamilton
Auckland
Auckland
And a couple from overseas…
London
Washington: Jewish voices for Peace state sit in in the US House of Representatives
Discounts on this great book by Israeli historian Ilan Pappe
Something you can do now with just a few clicks…
The cruelty of the Israeli Defence Force…
Two ways you can donate to humanitarian work in Gaza
1. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund – urgent Gaza appeal here
2. The Gaza Centre for Human Rights PSNA
Account name: PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-02 (Please put GCHR in the reference)
Can you help complete this compelling documentary – a message from the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign - $20,000 target!
Join us in completing a compelling documentary showcasing the extraordinary power of people uniting across age, nationality, background, religion, and culture to provide unwavering support to a nation on its quest for hope and independence amidst enduring hardships.
THE STORY
Since 2001 Kiwi cardiac surgeon Dr Alan Kerr with his wife Hazel have made many voluntary missions to Palestine to help set up paediatric cardiac services for Palestinian children. This work has been supported by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, "a secular, non- profit, non-political organisation dedicated to healing the wounds of war, occupation and poverty in the Middle East, regardless of their nationality, religion, race or gender."
Alan was often joined by a strong team of medical professionals from Aotearoa New Zealand. Their mission was to support locals to create their own cardiac unit for their children, including training local staff. A fully independent department is now functioning at the Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, treating 2-300 children annually from West Bank and Gaza, and a further unit is currently being developed in Ramallah, the administrative centre of the West Bank.
Renowned film director Paula Whetu Jones and team began a self-funded documentary to follow their work first in 2007, later in 2016, so the world can share in this powerful story of people helping each other and some who have gone on to survive numerous conflicts in the area.
In 2023 Dr Alan planned to make a final trip to see his friends, reconnect with former patients, get an update on the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s work and to receive an award of gratitude from Palestinian Government. A serious accident in Auckland prevented Dr Alan from making the trip but his daughter went instead. In the documentary we’ll see her discover firsthand the impact her parents made during their many trips to the Middle East.
THE PROJECT TO DATE:
The post-production editing is almost complete, but progress has been slow while the voluntary team have had to take on paid work.
Paula and team use an observational, candid look at subjects through personal interviews, on-the-go footage, as well as 3D-look inspired graphics to illustrate the geography and the archival stills. There is partially edited footage, drone footage and still photography that capture the beauty, as well as the juxtapositions and the unpredictability of the environment. The colours, the textures, the sounds and the scenery are captured, and material that draws attention to the shortcomings and challenges of the medical facilities, logistics and treatment available for Palestinian children in the region.
Importantly, the documentary shows the spirit of Palestinians and their collective goal to not be seen as victims, but rather as makers of their own path. Dr Kerr’s efforts inspire younger doctors to follow his example and save and heal many children, educate local staff, and leave a permanent, positive mark on the whole community. Hazel’s contributions in empowering young Palestinians through performing arts is another example that age is no barrier to helping those in need.
The focus on ‘ordinary’ Palestinians humanise the faces and the voices of those who live in this currently volatile region. The portrayal of the complexity and the politics of this region, by the mainstream media, often does not pay enough attention to the human beings living under these challenging circumstances.
The theme of this documentary is about people reaching out to help and support one another regardless of age, country of origin, background, religion and culture and the impact it makes.
Renowned film director Paula Whetu Jones has been writing and directing for film and television and produced a range of works over the last 20 years. See https://www.paulawhetujones.nz/
For more on Dr Alan Kerr’s work see https://www.pcrf.net/news/dr-alan-kerr-the-father-of-pediatric-cardiac-surgery-in-palestine.html
For more on Palestine Children’s Relief Fund please see https://www.pcrf.net/
THE ASK:
The documentary needs final editing and with your financial help, can be completed by the end of 2023.
Please help raise the $20,000 needed.
Donations can be made by sending to the account of PHRC (Palestine Human Rights Campaign) 06 0145 0045138 00 Please provide surname as a reference and send advice to phrcfundraiser@gmail.com
Please Note - Donations will be receipted fully but do not qualify for rebate as PHRC does not have charitable status.
$2,000 has been pledged already but we need a super charged effort to raise the remaining $18,000 by November 30th 2023.
Any help you can give to spread the word and encourage contributions from your friends and networks is much appreciated! Together we can bring this inspiring untold story of hope, compassion and healing to the world.
Janfrie Wakim and Marjory Lewis PHRC Auckland
Watch out for this man promoting racism and apartheid
Here he is – the Israeli ambassador – watch out for him around Aotearoa New Zealand – if you hear of any planned appearances or speaking engagements please contact us urgently: Email apartheid-Israel@PSNA.nz or text 027 4 APARTHEID or 027427278.
Israeli ambassador Ran Yaakoby
Important stories from the Web
Here is a small selection from the numerous stories from the last week
Understanding the history of Israel/Palestine in five charts here
Josephine Varghese on civilians in Gaza here
MFAT statement on Israel’s war on Gaza here
A film selection here
Academic warn of potential genocide here
Damning evidence of war crimes as Israel wipes out whole families in Gaza here
The most successful land-grab strategy since 1967 here
Ilan Pappe speaks here
Open letter from Palestinian Christians to western church leaders and theologians here
Public statement from 800 scholars warning of potential genocide in Gaza here
Reminder: Dates for Palestine Solidarity in 2023
Israel apartheid week has been added to the dates for likely local and national Palestine solidarity activity this year.
28 Mar – 4 Apr Israel Apartheid Week
30 Mar Land Day Palestine
5 Apr Palestinian Childs Day
9 Apr Deir Yassin massacre - Irgun Terrorism - 107-120 Palestinian men, women and children massacred
17 Apr Palestinian Prisoners Day
11 May World Kufiya Day
15 May Nakba Day – marking the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Palestine in 1948
5 Jun Nakba Day - Start of 1967 War - Land Grab – Invasion of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt and Syria - 5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967
20 Jun Attack on Gaza - 6–21 May 2021 (2 weeks and 1 day)
16-18 Sep 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres
28 Sep Second Intifada - 28 Sept 2000 – 8 Feb 2005
2 Nov Balfour Declaration
29 Nov United Nations - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
8 Dec First Intifada - 8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993
Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign?
We will need some serious money to make our campaign as effective as possible. For example, we will need somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 to bring speakers to New Zealand over the next year and organise large public meetings to help spread the message.
You can help. Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign? In other words, can you afford to make an automatic payment of $5 per month to support the Palestinian struggle? (If you can afford more that would be great!)
Our account details are:
Account name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)
In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter – an invitation to subscribe from Leslie Bravery
Because of mainstream news media complicity, daily headlines and commentary only occasionally ever mention the relentless Israeli violence in Palestine, not even the frequent air strikes!
However, daily news and statistics regarding the violence Palestinians are forced to live under are regularly reported on in the “In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter”, sourced and compiled for easy reading and correlation chiefly from the Palestinian Monitoring Group's daily situation reports.
The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be circulated, by email, worldwide to subscribers only, as it has been over the last two decades.
Please contact lesliebravery@icloud.com if you also wish to become a subscriber.
Merchandise for sale
We have Merchandise you can buy including T-shirts from our website.
Go here - https://www.psna.nz/shop
More ways you can get involved
Forward this Newsletter – If you know people who may be interested in this movement, please forward this Newsletter to them.
Join in local activities in your area monthly Rallies - In Auckland at 2.00 pm on the first Saturday of every month. Please consider doing the same in your community. Contact Secretary@PSNA.nz if you would like to know where and how to get Flags and Banners
Help set up a Students for Justice in Palestine groups on your campus
Tell Your MP your opinions on Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.
Write Letters to Newspapers – Call Talkback Radio
Keep in touch with the campaign on social media
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network website: https://www.PSNA.nz
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: Secretary@PSNA.nz
The Palestine Human Rights Campaign produces the In Occupied Palestine newsletter. It is a regular daily newsletter on the daily situation in Palestine, compiled by Leslie Bravery and emailed to subscribers. If you would also like to become a subscriber, please contact Leslie at “lesliebravery @ icloud .com” (remove the spaces to use as an email address) for further information.
Keep Updated on our Facebook pages and websites (listed below)
Human rights for Uyghur refugees - In line with our support for human rights for the people of Palestine we have added our name to the petition in support of human rights for Uyghur refugees so they can be included in the government’s refugee quota. PSNA members who wish to also sign this petition can do so here - https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/open-letter-let-s-show-compassion-to-the-uyghur-community
PSNA Groups
PSNA National Committee
Website: www.PSNA.nz
Chair - John Minto: Chair@PSNA.nz
Secretary - Neil Scott: Secretary@PSNA.nz
Regional Groups
Bay of Islands PSN Bay of Islands (Email)
Whangarei PSN Whangarei (Facebook)
Auckland PSN Auckland – Tamaki Makaurau (Website)
Hamilton Palestine Human Rights Campaign Waikato (Facebook)
Tauranga Tauranga Moana 4 Palestine (Facebook)
Napier/Hastings Aotearoa Standing with Palestine (Facebook)
Palmerston North PSN Palmerston North (Email)
New Plymouth PSN Taranaki (Facebook)
Wellington PSN Wellington (Email)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSN Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)