Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters,
Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford
People for Palestine is an organisation committed to advocating for the human rights of Palestinians. For 76 years, Palestinians have been subjected to oppression, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. In light of the current genocide happening in Gaza, People for Palestine urges the New Zealand government to take the following actions:
1. Impose immediate economic, diplomatic and military sanctions on Israel
2. Publicly reinstate our funding for the United Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA)
3. Grant emergency humanitarian visas to Palestinians in Gaza who have family ties in Aotearoa
Additionally, we implore the government to provide the necessary diplomatic assistance for their safe evacuation. Once these families arrive in New Zealand, we ask that robust resettlement assistance is provided for and resourced appropriately. Approximately 300-400 individuals in Gaza have existing family connections in New Zealand, making them eligible for a visa similar to the one granted to Ukrainian families in 2022.
The Special Ukraine Visas and Afghan Emergency Resettlement Visas were implemented within weeks. Now after more than 200 days of conflict, we call for a similar humanitarian pathway to be extended to Palestinians with family members in New Zealand. Australia and Canada have already established pathways; it is our turn to urgently follow suit.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, please take the necessary steps to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand sits on the right side of history, that our peacekeeping reputation is kept intact and that we prioritise equal and just human rights for everyone in this world.
