PSNA Newsletter No 175- February 12 2025
12 Pēpuere 2025
12 February 2025
Newsletter No 175
BREAKING NEWS… Hamas report of Israeli ceasefire violations here
NATIONAL HUI: MOBILISING AOTEAROA IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE
22nd Feb – 23rd Feb 2025
Willeston Conference Centre, Level 11, 15 Willeston Street, Wellington Central
The future of Palestine hangs in the balance. The extraordinary return of thousands of Palestinians to northern Gaza last week is their greatest ever victory.
But within days, the Trump White House has promised Israel to permantly expel two million Palestinians from Gaza.
In 2025 organised global resistance is required now more than ever. We in Aotearoa have a key role in assisting and heeding the call of Palestinians for their rights.
Here’s how you can take part.
The 2025 Hui
Every year the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) hosts a national hui to provide an opportunity to connect, learn and plan for strategic collaborative actions locally, nationally and internationally with other solidarity groups and individuals with the shared commitment to see a liberated Palestine.
This year PSNA will mobilise Aotearoa. We vitally need to grow our grassroots peoples’ movement.
The conference is free for all participants, but we ask that you register.
To register please visit:
Registrations for attendance will close on 16th February 2025. If you don’t register by then it’s unlikely we will have space in the venue options.
National Hui Programme
The theme is ‘Mobilising Aotearoa in Solidarity with Palestine’.
We focus on connecting, learning, and planning together. We will be providing you with an engaging space, and an opportunity to connect with international and local speakers who are essential to this movement.
Our keynote speaker for this year is Dr Samah Sabawi. You can find out more about Samah here: https://samahsabawi.com/
The programme will be available on our website (www.psna.nz)
Venue & Accommodation
Victoria University cancelled our booking – implausibly citing a ‘lack of resources’… But we are glad to now be working with the Willeston Conference Centre in Central Wellington as our hosts for this year’s national hui.
PSNA is organising billeting, so if you can host someone, or if you need to billet, please email us at secretary@psna.nz.
The Willeston Conference Centre also offers a 20% discount with the Village Accommodation Group if you would prefer to pay for accommodation yourself and stay closer to the conference venue. For more information on this please use their website: https://willeston.co.nz/food-equipment/other-services/
If you have any further queries or concerns we encourage you to contact a member of the organising committee: Don (w.don.carson@gmail.com) or Tayyaba (tayyaba.k@gmail.com)
Winston Peters refusal to join 79 countries to protect the International Criminal Court puts New Zealand firmly in Trump’s minority, lawless, hard-right camp
Foreign Minister Winston Peters puts New Zealand firmly in Trump’s minority, lawless, hard-right camp
Winston Peters’ refusal to join the other 79 countries trying to protect the International Criminal Court after vicious attacks and sanctions issued by US President Trump is unconscionable.
“Endless New Zealand politicians, including the present government, have pointed to our support for a rules-based international system” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “The ICC is a key part of that system but Winston Peters has jettisoned this policy in favour of a US-First approach; rather than a New Zealand-First approach”
In fact, we can find no evidence that Peters has ever uttered a word of real criticism of the US in his entire political career.
Within the past two weeks Winston Peters has:
Openly welcomed Israeli soldiers and Israeli war criminals coming into New Zealand, with no questions asked, for “rest and recreation” from their genocide in Gaza
Refused to condemn Trump’s racist plans for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza so his son-in-law can turn it into a "Riviera of the Middle East'. This is an intended international crime of epic proportions, and now
Refused to join 79 countries supporting the International Criminal Court against Trump's actions
“The countries we are refusing to join in criticising Trump include two other Five Eyes countries, the UK and Canada, as well as Germany, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Spain etc”
“Winston Peters has put New Zealand in the hard-right international minority extremist camp with Trump” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “This is creepy and cowardly complicity with a state whose values we do not share.”
"Winston Peters' ministry has been at great pains over the past year to state how much our government supports the work of the ICC. The MFAT website states “We have also been clear in our support of the International Criminal Court's mandate in Palestine”
"But when the ICC issues arrest warrants against Israeli leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, our government goes completely silent."
“Will Winston Peters now copy his master and revoke an immigration ban on 33 Israeli settlers responsible for leading pogroms against Palestinian communities in the Occupied West Bank, as Trump did a few days ago?”
“US policy towards Palestine underlines the case for New Zealand to leave the Five Eyes US international spy network.”
"An independent foreign policy means making our own decisions and working with the great majority of like-minded countries who support international institutions, such as the ICC and the International Court of Justice."
"Instead, we have a foreign minister who is in the US pocket and blindly working for the interests of Trump and his robber barons.”
Two things you can do now with just a few clicks…
Help promote Samah Sabawi’s tour by sharing the posters which are on our social media pages and details of her public meetings (see below)
Share on your social media pages the PSNA media release on New Zealand refusal to criticise the blatant war crimes promoted by US President Trump (see release above)
Itinerary for Samah Sabawi – New Zealand Tour 2025
Sunday 16 Feb – Auckland
2pm Book Reading at Takapuna library
7pm Public Meeting at Western Springs Garden Community Hall 956 Great North Road
Monday 17 Feb – Hamilton
7pm to 9pm Public gathering at Ethos Café 100 Morrinsville Road, Hillcrest – local bookshop will have books for sale.
Tuesday 18 Feb – Wellington
Public meeting at 5.30pm at St Andrews on the Terrace, 30 The Terrace, Wellington
Wednesday 19 Feb – Dunedin
12pm, University of Otago, Richardson Building, Room 6N4: Seminar: Palestine: Justice, Peace & Art
6pm, Yours Cafe: Book discussion, and the pathway to Palestinian liberation, justice and peace.
Thursday 20 Feb – Christchurch
7pm Public Meeting at Transitional Cathedral (Scorpio Books will have a stall)
Friday 21 Feb – Nelson
3-4 pm Coffee & Korero with Samah, Elma Turner Library
6pm Evening at Trafalgar St Hall
7.30 pm Book signing + conversation
Saturday 22 Feb – Wellington
Keynote talk at PSNA national conference
Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!
Remember possible action for local groups
For groups affiliated to PSNA we suggest the following actions could be taken at any time in support of this campaign
Asking your local backpacker accommodation to display the poster and draw it to the attention of any Israeli soldiers here on “rest and recreation” from the genocide.
Pasting the hotline poster (use the version in this newsletter which includes a contact email) around the vicinity of backpacker venues in your local area. This is already happening in some areas.
Hand out flyers to people in the vicinity of your local backpackers
Contact us on the hotline if you come across Israeli soldiers
Nationwide rallies/marches/MP protests/vigils this week
To view events around Aotearoa:
Go to the PSNA Homepage – www.PSNA.nz
Scroll down to the button “For a list of events Nationwide, please click here - Check back often for updates”
· Click the button
· Check back on Friday for any moves, adds or changes
Or events are on the PSNA Facebook events page here
There are more than 25 events around the Motu this week.
North Island
Kerikeri - Rally
First Saturday of the month
Whangarei – Rally
No Rally this weekend
Auckland – Stand for Palestine
Monday – Friday
3:00 – 4:00 pm at the US Consulate - 23 Customs Street East
4:00 – 5:00 pm at Te Komititanga Britomart Square
Auckland Picket
Wednesday 12 February
12:00 mid-day
MFAT - 139 Quay Street, Auckland CBD
Waiheke – Market Stall – hosted by Stand With Palestine Waiheke!
Every Saturday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ostend Market, Waiheke Island
Auckland – Banners around Tamaki Makaurau
Every Saturday
This week
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Football 4 Freedom event at Walter Massey Park in Māngere
Auckland – Gathering for Palestine
Saturday 15 February
2:00 pm
Te Komititanga - Britomart Square, Tamaki Makaurau
Auckland – Talk by Samah Sabawi
Sunday 16 February
7:00 pm
Western Springs Garden Community Center
956 Great North Road, Western Springs
Thames – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
(Hosted by The Basket – Social and Environmental Justice - Hauraki)
First Saturday of the month
Tauranga - Swim with Gaza
Saturday 15th February
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Tay St Beach, Tay & Marine Parade, Mt Maunganui
Hamilton – Flag Waving for Palestine
Saturday 15 February
1:00 pm
Flynn Park, Cnr Wairere Drive & Naylor, Hamilton
Hamilton – Rally
No Rally week
Raglan
No Event week
Cambridge - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Cambridge Town Hall
Rotorua – Rally for Palestine
Every Thursday
4:30 pm
National MP Todd McClays Office - Cnr Amohau and Ranolf St lights, Rotorua
Napier - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 15 February
11:30 am
Marine Parade Soundshell Roundabout
Hastings – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 16 February
1:00 pm
Hastings Town Clock – Hastings CBD
Palmerston North - Rally
Every Sunday
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North
New Plymouth – Flags at the Council
Friday 14 February
4:30 pm
New Plymouth District Council, 84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth
No Rally this Saturday
Whanganui - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 8 February
11:00 am
Riverside Market, Whanganui
Carterton – Gathering for Gaza
Every Tuesday
12:00 midday
Memorial Square.
Martinborough – Vigil for Palestine
Every Wednesday
11:00 am
The square at the top of Kitchener St, Martinborough
Masterton - Gathering for Gaza
Every Sunday
9:30 am
Town Hall Lawn, Masterton
Featherston – Gathering for Gaza
Every Saturday
11:00 am
The Squircle (opposite the op shop).
Wellington – Flags on the Bridge
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Every Friday
7:15 – 8:15 am
Hill Street bridge Overbridge, Wellington
Wellington – Rally
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Moving to Third Saturday of the month. Next Rally Saturday 15 March
Check out https://www.instagram.com/falastin_tea_collective for details
Wellington - Whispers from the Colonised Windows of Palestine and Aotearoa
NZ Fringe Festival
14-18 February
https://tickets.fringe.co.nz/event/446:6209/
Wellington - Sumud: A Story of Love, Loss, and Return
Saturday 15th February
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
2/57 Willis Street, Wellington
Wellington – National Hui
Saturday 22 February – 9:00 – 5:00 and then shared meal
Sunday 23 February – 9:00 – 3:00 pm
Willeston Conference Centre, 11/15 Willeston Street, Wellington Central
South Island
Blenheim - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 15 February
11:00 am
Blenheim Railway Station
Picton – Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Picton Foreshore
Christchurch – Flags for Palestine
Friday 14 February
4:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Christchurch – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 15 February
1:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Dunedin – Rally
Moved to once a month
No Rally this weekend
Invercargill - Rally for Palestine
No rally this weekend
Keep your ear to the ground
Pass on to us any news you have of government MPs at public events so we can hold them to account. Send messages to Secretary@PSNA.nz
Webinar with Abdaljawad Omar
Three quotes for this week
“They even found a Haaretz newspaper with a picture of the hostages and asked what it was, saying was incitement. They took every book with a Palestinian flag on it.”
—Mourad Muna; Owner, Educational Bookstore in Occupied East Jerusalem
“Israel is continuing its war on the entire Palestinian people.”
—B’tselem; Israeli Human Rights Organization
"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from the occupied territory to the territory of the occupying power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, whatever the motive."
—Article 49, Fourth Geneva Convention
Palestine solidarity at Waitangi last week
The best action at the US Superbowl
PSNA says government must oppose Trump ethnic cleansing of Gaza
The Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa says Palestinians in Gaza should be allowed to return to their original homes in Israel – instead of being permanently forced out of Gaza to Jordan and Egypt under US President Trump’s expulsion plan.
PSNA Chair John Minto says the Trump plan, which has just been agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington, is rewarding Israel for its genocidal destruction of Gaza.
“The whole Israel plan was to make Gaza unliveable by bombing it to smithereens over the past year. Israel has failed to drive the Palestinians out, and so now Israel has passed the depopulation job for two million people, onto the United States.”
“But 80 percent of them are already refugees from Israeli ethnic cleansing in 1948. Under International Law they are entitled to head the other way – back to their real homes in Jerusalem, Haifa, Ashkelon and other towns and cities in what is now Israel.”
“Every year the General Assembly of the United Nations votes to demand Israel allow the families of the Palestinians forced out of Palestine in 1948 to return to their homes and be paid compensation.”
“New Zealand votes for this resolution. Our nation’s official policy for years has been to affirm the right of Palestinians to return to their original homes in Palestine.”
Minto says this view is a long-standing world consensus.
“I’ve just seen a statement by former Saudi Arabian diplomat Prince Turki al Faisal. He is saying exactly the same thing. Most Palestinians are only in Gaza because of western complicity in allowing Israel to drive them there. They must be allowed to go back.”
“Our Foreign Minister should immediately stand by government policy and clearly and publicly tell Donald Trump that his Palestinian expulsion plan is not a humanitarian gesture, but a cynical war crime designed to do more dirty work for Israel and more than likely set up a resort development opportunity for his son-in-law Jared Kushner.”
Whispers from the Colonised Windows of Palestine and Aotearoa
Friday 14th February in Wellington. Tickets here: https://tickets.fringe.co.nz/event/446:6209/
Palestine and Aotearoa unite in art, grief and resilience here
Important stories from last week
Sorry we haven’t updated this selection of stories so we are repeating the list from last week
Editor’s Pick’s
Nine countries launch legal action against Israel over Gaza war here
The weaponizing of anti-semitism is to hide the genocide here
Trump signs executive order imposing sanctions on ICC over Israel arrest warrants here
Israel kills two women, including pregnant 23-year-old, in West Bank raid here
Over 20,000 Palestinians displaced by Israeli assault on Jenin refugee camp in West Bank: Official here
Anti-semitism is fuelled by Israel and its lobby – not their opponents here
Microsoft is a partner in genocide, and it is time to hold them accountable here (petition)
Other Stories
On ethnic cleansing and land theft here
Anti-semitism a vehicle for engineering anti-Palestinian racism here
Israel accused of torturing Palestinian workers to death here
Labour MPs slam 'barbaric' Netanyahu call for Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia here
EU: Sanctioning ICC undermines international criminal justice system here
ICC condemns Trump's sanctions against its staff here
Israel withdraws from UN Human Rights Council, following US lead here
Israel moves to implement ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza here
Despite ceasefire, Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza here
66 Palestinian bodies retrieved from sand mounds built by Israel in Gaza here
Report: Israel destroyed 226 archaeological sites in Gaza here
Israel's stranglehold on southern Syria devastates water resources, land, and livelihoods of Syrian farmers here
Kill the Doomer in your head - by J. P. Hill - New Means here
China responds to Trump plan for Gaza here (video)
66 MKs sign petition to expel Ayman Odeh from Israel’s Knesset here
Netanyahu gifts Trump golden pager celebrating Lebanon attacks here
Israeli occupation army expands assault in northern West Bank here
Gaza death toll nears 48,200 as more bodies found in rubble here
Here’s how Israel is repeatedly violating the Lebanon ceasefire here
Egypt to host emergency Arab summit on Palestine here
‘State of panic’ among locals as Israel expands occupation of south Syria here
Stealing water: Israel's covert war on Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan here
Saudi Arabia slams Netanyahu’s suggestion it should host Palestinian state here
Raffi Berg: BBC Middle East Editor Exposed as CIA, Mossad Collaborator here
UN censures London for misuse of terrorism laws to silence pro-Palestine voices here
New Zealand Labour Party finds some voice at last here
Christchurch man says family in Gaza will never leave despite US proposal here
How Israel Deceived the U.S. and Built the Bomb here
Netanyahu Is Preparing to Sabotage the Gaza Ceasefire…Again here
Germany's new Anti-Semitism resolution threatens academic freedom, scholars warn here
Jewish artists sound alarm over Germany's new 'absurd' anti-Semitism resolution here
How the Palestinian Authority and Israel are allies in silencing the truth here
Palestine prisoners release is a symbolic win showing unity in the face of occupation here
Ignore Trump’s bullying and take a stand over genocide PSNA tells Peters here
Netanyahu's Gaza Disaster: The SHOCKING Truth Behind Israel's Defeat - David Hearst 's brilliant summary in 9 min here (video)
How the West hides its Gaza genocide guilt behind Holocaust Day remembrance here (Jonathan Cook)
As part of West Bank offensive, Israel conducts largest demolition in years – Mondoweiss here
Donald Trump vows US will 'take over' Gaza, says Palestinians should leave here
Israel’s UNRWA ban is a full-frontal assault on life-saving aid to Palestinians here
First, in the context of Israel’s actions in Palestine, I should mention that my late
World condemns Trump's US Gaza takeover plan here
‘Strictly prohibited’: UN officials denounce Trump’s Gaza plan as unlawful here
'No to Trump's plan!' Palestinians vow to stay in Gaza here
Anger flares on social media over Trump plan to 'take over' and 'own' Gaza here
Israel's West Bank assault displaces 26,000 from Jenin and Tulkarm camps here
Jordan ready for war with Israel if Palestinians are expelled into its territory here
"Grave for the Living": The health status of Palestinian prisoners recently released from Israeli jails indicates their systematic malnutrition and torture here
'The most difficult situation I have ever experienced': Gaza's heroic medics open up about the horrors of their work during 15 months of Israel's genocide here
Amnesty International says that US welcome of Israel’s Netanyahu shows contempt for international justice here
Trumps plan for Gaza heralds an age of naked fascism here
Palestinians have a clear message for Donald Trump over Gaza: ‘We are here, we won’t leave’ here
Bringing Israeli genocide perpetrators to justice here
UK's failure to act enabled Israel’s 'genocide' in Gaza, says Amnesty here
The Gaza 'war' was a lie, as is the ceasefire. Trump just told you here
Putin says Gaza war must end with establishment of Palestinian state here
Moral bankruptcy: Israel’s genocide and the betrayal of the Palestinians here
PSNA’s Minto hits back at Gaza genocide hotline critics – insists NZ should deny Israeli soldier visas here
The stickers keep going on…
If you’d like some stickers email your address to Merchandise@PSNA.nz and we will send them to you. (Note: we will have a specific Sodastream sticker available soon)
What to boycott over Summer?
Watch out for the main BDS targets over summer – don’t buy them and spread the word to friends, family and workmates…
1) Sodastream
2) HP products
3) BP and Caltex petrol stations
4) McDonald’s
5) Ahava beauty products
On-line in Aotearoa
https://www.onceit.co.nz/
https://freshbeautyco.co.nz/collections/
https://www.cosmeticsnow.nz/about
https://www.pharmacydirect.co.nz/Ahava (they also have products under the brand 'Dead Sea')
https://www.recreateyourself.co.nz/ (based in Oz)
https://nz.cosmostore.org/catalog/brands/
Stores: Harvey Norman!
Merchandise for sale
We are ready to mail to you any of our t-shirts, long ($35) and short ($30) sleeved, hoodies ($45) bumper stickers ($3), Tino/Palestine pins ($3) flags ($10) and other items plus postage.
See more on the PSNA website here.
Email Merchandise@PSNA.nz with your order.
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 - 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)