Invercargill City Council: call for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

On January 26th, the International Court of Justice determined that the Israel-Gaza conflict plausibly amounts to genocide. As of July 12th, 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 90,000 injured, and 90% of the population displaced—roughly half under the age of 18. Despite the seriousness of the situation, and calls for a ceasefire from regional bodies such as the Whanganui and Far North District Councils, there has been no response from our local representatives.

 

Remaining silent on violence and terror against civilians is not a neutral stance, we have a duty to the Palestinian families within our communities who are affected by these events. Denouncing atrocities and calling for action holds significant political weight and influences our collective well-being. A community committed to upholding human rights ensures safety for everyone.

As a member state of the United Nations, New Zealand is bound to proactively support its resolutions. Numerous resolutions, including the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2728 adopted on March 25, 2024, call for a ceasefire and this call has been supported by many local and international bodies. In March 2022, Parliament unanimously voted to condemn the Russian government's invasion of Ukraine, reflecting our country’s strong tradition of upholding international human rights. In line with this, we urge the Invercargill City Council and Southland Regional Council to honour international law and join the Whanganui and Far North Councils in calling for a ceasefire.