Amnesty disappointed by NZ Government’s weak position on Gaza

The New Zealand Government's reserved approach to the crisis in Gaza is contrary to this country's history of speaking out strongly against international crises, says Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand.

"We are disappointed by Foreign Minister Murray McCully's recent comments and would welcome a stronger call to end the latest bloodshed in Gaza," says Rebecca Emery, Amnesty NZ's spokesperson.

"Despite New Zealand's small size, our positioning as a non-aligned voice could lend a strong leadership role within the international community," adds Emery.

Amnesty is urging McCully to lobby the United Nations Security Council to take firm and decisive action to address the increasingly grave situation in Gaza.

"Civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza are on an unprecedented scale. The UN Security Council can and must act and it should do so without further delay," says Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Without strong condemnation, the indiscriminate and disproportionate firing of rockets into southern Israel continues to cause a spiralling civilian death toll. The humanitarian crisis is being further exacerbated by Israel's refusal of entry to medical and other emergency assistance.

"It is utterly unacceptable for New Zealand to stay quiet while the carnage continues and Israel purposefully deprives 1.5 million people of food and other basic necessities," says Emery.

Amnesty International is asking the UN Security Council to:
- urgently adopt a strong resolution condemning attacks against civilians by both Israel and Hamas and demanding such attacks cease immediately;
- urge Israel to lift restrictions on the passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza and to allow humanitarian and human rights workers and journalists unfettered access to Gaza;
- consider the deployment of international monitors to verify compliance of international law.

Background:
Since the beginning of the offensive on 27 December, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed, including scores of unarmed civilians and some 70 women and children. Over 2,000 Palestinians have also been injured.

Five Israeli civilians have also been killed and scores injured as all Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, including the armed wing of the Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas' al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, have continued to launch rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.

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