PSNA Newsletter No 183 - 9 April 2025
2 Paenga-whāwhā 2025
2 April 2025
Newsletter No 183
Items in this newsletter
1. Palestinian minor died of 'starvation, medical neglect' in Israel's jails
2. Nationwide rallies/marches/vigils this week
3. What you can do now with just a few clicks
4. Falastin Tea Collective Steps Up Again
5. Lobbying to Win
6. Israeli Military Murders and Lies. Again. . .
7. A petition to sign
8. Winstone Peters, Christopher Luxon and Judith Collins Know. . .
9. Just Six Government MPs Needed To Pass “Unlawful Occupation Of Palestine” Sanctions Bill
10. Palestine Exhibition request for items
11. Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!
12. Important stories from last week
13. Merchandise for sale
14. SodaStream stickers available
Palestinian minor died of 'starvation, medical neglect' in Israel's jails
Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmad, a 16-year-old Palestinian detainee, fell victim, in Israel’s Megiddo Prison, to what is described as deliberate abuse and neglect by Israeli authorities, Anadolu Agency reports.
Last week, the Palestinian Prisoners Society and the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs confirmed Walid’s death, saying they were officially notified by the Israeli Civil Administration.
The two organisations stated that his death was part of a broader pattern of “systematic violations” in Israeli prisons, which have intensified since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on 7 October, 2023.
Walid was still under detention and had not been sentenced when he passed away, but his family reported that Israeli forces subjected him to “severe mistreatment”.
According to his father, Israeli authorities subjected Walid to “beatings, starvation, and medical neglect during his time in custody.”
Ahmad stated, adding: “Israel is deliberately killing child detainees.”
You can read the full article here.
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.
What can you do now with just a few clicks…
Join in the rallies and events around the motu that can be accessed here.
Keep up on taking action to get six government MPs to support the Green Party “Illegal occupation of Palestine” bill (see item later in the newsletter)
Sign the open letter to the government here https://www.psna.nz/letter-to-winston-peters
Falastin Tea Collective Steps Up Again
In response to the relentless savagery of the Israeli regime and deafening silence of our government, the Falastin Tea Collective is resuming its weekly Saturday rallies after switching to a monthly schedule in February.
The weekly Friday-morning flag-waving is continuing unabated.
“We cannot in good conscience slow down while Palestinians continue to be slaughtered and starved by Israel. Our community has reminded us that protest is a critical expression of our collective solidarity with the people of Gaza and the wider occupied territories as they remain subjected to unimaginable brutality” says Francesca, an organiser for FTC.
FTC will continue to hold the rallies at different parts of Wellington City each Saturday for maximum reach. “Our goal is to increase the pressure while complementing other solidarity actions held in Pōneke during the weekdays” says Luke, also an organiser. “For us, Palestinians must know we have not forgotten them. And our government and Zionists must know, we are watching.”
Lobbying to Win
Register here
Israeli Military Murders and Lies. Again. . .
At first it was the Israeli Military spokesperson so confident saying the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance was acting suspiciously with no lights or emergency lights on.
They could never imagine the video evidence emerging from the shallow grave where they buried the evidence of their Crime against Humanity.
The truth is that the vehicles did have their headlights on and flashing lights working.
The truth is that the medics were executed. Some with their hands and legs bound and shot in the head. Then buried in shallow graves along with the destroyed vehicles.
Backtracking, they made up lie after lie to try to justify their illegal murder of unarmed Palestinian medics and one UN official. See here for story.
Activists in Nelson protesting the Murder of Medics
A petition to sign
While children in Gaza starve and bombs murder them in their sleep - Israel’s Prime Minister is travelling to Hungary!
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant on Netanyahu, and Hungary is obliged to arrest him. But they said they simply won’t!
International justice is not optional, Europe must immediately pressure Viktor Orbán to comply and Netanyahu be taken to court for the unimaginable horrors he’s caused to civilians in Gaza. Sign our urgent plea to arrest Netanyahu and share with everyone!
You can sign the petition here.
Winstone Peters, Christopher Luxon and Judith Collins Know. . .
The killing of Palestinians in Gaza has been going on in a Genocidal manner for more than 17 months now.
The Crimes against Humanity have been documented again, and again, and again.
The Genocide was outlined at the International Court of Justice.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Netanyahu and the ex-defence minister Galant.
There is No Question that Israel is committing Crimes against Humanity.
Aotearoa has Obligations under International Law to take action. Yet our Government refuses to take the action based on the International laws, translated into New Zealand laws, that we should.
Their refusal is noted.
In years to come when they try to excuse their lack of action based on - “They Didn’t Know”.
This will be a bare faced lie. They Know. But they Choose Not to act for some distorted reason that they currently justify to themselves.
Shocking!
Just Six Government MPs Needed To Pass “Unlawful Occupation Of Palestine” Sanctions Bill
As we reported last week the Green Party bill calling for sanctions on Israel has gained support from Te Pāti Māori and Labour and needs support from just six government MPs for it to pass when introduced into parliament. The details are here.
The Green Party are looking for at least six government MPs to support the bill, which will give a majority in parliament, and we are calling on supporters around the country to book in meetings with their local MPs – either list or electorate MPs – to ask them to support the bill and support a conscience vote on the bill. A conscience vote means an MP would be free to support sanctions against Israel even if their party as a whole won’t support the bill. You can find your closest government MP here.
We can provide additional information to help you present this to your local government MPs – either electorate or list MPs – to get the bill debated in parliament. If you’d like more information please contact secretary@PSNA.nz
We ask all our supporters to contact their closest government MPs and urge them to support the Green Party bill being debated in parliament.
Sometimes it is worth complaining
The Monday edition of The Post in Wellington ran a story “KiwiSaver ethical expectations survive ‘anti-woke’ backlash’.
Rob Stock reported on the ASB KiiwSaver campaign against ASB’s Israeli investments. He wrote the objection was to investment, 'in what many countries see as illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories'.
Don Carson wrote to Stuff that it is irrefutable that the settlements are illegal, and cited these sources;
Security Council Resolution 2334 - UNSCR
https://www.icj-cij.org/case/131
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154496
There was an immediate response;
“Hi Don,
You are correct. I will change the description.
thanks so much
Dita De Boni
Auckland Business Editor, The Post
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
Important stories from last week
Editor’s picks
Report from the Frontline of Israel’s War of Annihilation: Hossam Shabat’s Last Article here
The new fascism: Israel is the template for Trump and Europe’s war on freedom here
US ‘unleashed Israel’ with all the weapons it needs, says Trump deputy envoy here
Ramadan massacre obliterates west’s claim to moral leadership here
18 March 2025: The day 183 children in Gaza were massacred by Israel here
My Name is Mahmoud Khalil and I Am a Political Prisoner here
Israel Violated the Gaza Ceasefire From the Start. Why Won’t the Media Tell You That? here
Report reveals 5,350 Israeli settler attacks in West Bank over decade here
Other stories
Israeli attacks kill 2 more journalists in Gaza as death toll rises to 208 here
Would it be okay for Hamas to strike a hospital treating Benjamin Netanyahu? here
Oscar-winning Palestinian film director attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested here
Stop arms deliveries to Israel here (petition)
Netanyahu is lying here
Ramadan massacre obliterates west’s claim to moral leadership here
18 March 2025: The day 183 children in Gaza were massacred by Israel here
Gaza families wiped out entirely as Netanyahu 'clings onto power' with war here
Israel drops 'Quranic' leaflets saying 'no one will care' if Gaza people vanish here
WEOG: Western European and Others Group – New Zealand included – here
Day 531: The gates of hell here
Listen: 'Where was the UN?' asks freed Israeli captive. Its staff were busy being killed here
Amid global inaction, Israel intensifies its forced displacement campaign in the Gaza strip here
International community’s silence grants Israel carte blanche to escalate genocide in Gaza here
UN records highest number of Israeli checkpoints in 2 decades across occupied Palestinian territory here
Israel destroys Gaza’s specialised cancer hospital, attacks continue here
A child in Gaza watched his mother burn alive - then he died too here
Hamas says it has 'no ambition to rule Gaza' as talks continue here
Report reveals 5,350 Israeli settler attacks in West Bank over decade here
Israel blows up Gaza’s only specialised cancer hospital in massive blast here
Israeli TV hosts calls for a Nakba every generation here
The Last Chapter of the Genocide here (Chris Hedges)
Israel aims to kill a Palestinian football revolution along with its players here
First they came for Mahmoud Khalil…here
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 50,000 Palestinians since October 2023 here
Israel appoints body to oversee expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza here
Green Party’s Swarbrick calls for urgent NZ action over Israel’s crazy Gaza slaughter here
US and Israel have laid the groundwork for war with Iran – will Trump set it off? here
With Massive Airstrikes on Yemen, Trump Intensifies Undeclared War Against the Poorest Country in the Arab World here
Israel kills at least nine Palestinians, including journalists, in Gaza here
Australian doctors who visited Gaza recount harrowing scenes here
Death toll from US-UK airstrikes on Yemen rises to 31: Houthis here
End support for Israel, stop killing people of Yemen: Iran responds to Trump’s threat here
Israel airstrikes kill four in south Lebanon here
Israel invites Western far-right figures to conference on combatting anti-semitism here
‘I was a human shield’: What Israeli soldiers did to a Gaza father here
Professor at Center of Columbia University Deportation Scandal is Former Israeli Spy here
‘Racism requires ignorance’: How art and culture can help end racial discrimination here
US-Zionist alliance resumes its genocidal bombing of Gaza: now is the time for action and resistance here
PSNA calls on NZ government to condemn renewed Israeli air strikes on Gaza – 230 killed here
New Zealand and Gaza: Confronting and not confronting the unspeakable here
Former US envoy slams air attacks on Houthis – NZ protesters recite poetry here
Free press under threat in US – Columbia J-School speaks out here
NZ rally honours ‘voice of Palestine’ poet and marks Christchurch massacre here
100 Christian leaders’ open letter calls for NZ humanitarian visas for trapped Gaza families here
PSNA open letter calls for New Zealand to condemn Israel’s weaponisation of Gaza humanitarian aid here
Even more assaults on free speech to silence criticism of Israel here
Massacre at 2 A.M.: Israel Resumes Indiscriminate Attacks Against Gaza, Killing Over 400 People here
Israel resumes its war on Gaza, killing over 350 people in one night here
“I couldn’t tell whether we were alive or dead and buried under the rubble” here
The case for taking campaigning away from social media here
The Big Picture with Mohamed Hassan here
Massacre at 2 A.M.: Israel Resumes Indiscriminate Attacks Against Gaza, Killing Over 400 People here
Notorious far-right Israeli politician Ben-Gvir to return to Netanyahu government here
International community’s silence grants Israel carte blanche to escalate genocide in Gaza here
Legal coalition to pursue Israelis accused of war crimes around the world here
UN staff member killed in central Gaza blast, five others injured here
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.
SodaStream stickers now available
If you’d like some stickers for sodastream email your name and address to Merchandise@PSNA.nz and we will send them to you.
Reminder: Annual Dates for Palestine Solidarity
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.
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)