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To: The New Plymouth District Council
New Plymouth Council: Take action for Gaza
We the undersigned residents of New Plymouth district call upon our elected officials in the New Plymouth District Council to pass the following Motion:
MOTION: CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA
(a) Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
(b) Call on the Government of New Zealand to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
(c) To condemn all acts of violence against civilians and condemn all crimes that contravene international law in the war on Gaza
(d) To call for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza so as to allow unlimited access to life-sustaining necessities such as food, water, fuel, electricity, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, and the supply of construction materials to repair damaged homes and civilian infrastructure.
(e) Recognise Palestine as a sovereign state (f) And add the following to their procurement policies:
NPDC will comply with UN resolution 2334 and will not contract with the list of companies identified by the UN Human Rights Council as involved in building or maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements. United Nations Resolution 2334 declared that all member states should not deal with organisations doing business in the illegally occupied Palestinian Territories, this includes Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Why is this important?
Palestinians are calling out to the international community to stop the military assault on Gaza responsible for tens of 1000s of civilian deaths and injuries. The world is watching as civilian populations in Gaza are being deliberately exterminated by Israel's military assault and the obstruction of aid and necessities of life, the scarcity of medical supplies and services and the destruction of hospitals. An authoritative estimate of the total Palestinian deaths from the Gaza conflict is 186,000 (as of July 2024), many times the known body count from direct military assault. 20,000 children simply can’t be found – either buried under the rubble, taken into captivity or buried in mass graves. This has to stop.
Humanitarian Law applies to everyone everywhere. War crimes are justified by ‘nothing on earth’ as declared by ICC Prosecutor Khan. If we tolerate or fail to prevent genocide in one place, how do we prevent it in another? A small nation like ours depends on an international rules-based order, and for our own security we must always be vigilant and provide strong, consistent support for international law, so we have assurance that we would neither be subject to nor responsible for war crimes.
New Zealand has clear legal obligations to do all it can to prevent breaches of international law that apply to conflict. Our response is not a question of foreign policy or subject to negotiation or diplomatic discretion. With regard to Gaza, a public insistence on an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unhindered supply of aid is one way we can demonstrate an honest commitment to our humanitarian obligations and values.
New Zealand is wavering in its humanitarian obligations. We need to clearly and forthrightly speak out against war crimes in Gaza and name those responsible as we have done for atrocities committed in Ukraine. To reiterate, our international humanitarian commitments are a legal obligation, and are not a foreign policy option.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY
Unhindered by foreign policy considerations, local bodies have the power to be clear and forthright about universal humanitarian principles. These principles, such as respect for human life, reflect our humanity and our values as citizens and as a nation. With the support of its citizens, councils are enabled to remind central government of their responsibilities, or to take responsibility when central government is unwilling.
Our own law formalises these values and principles. The observance of human rights and the condemnation of acts which breach those rights, namely acts of violence against civilians, is a legal obligation of our government under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Many citizens within the New Plymouth district are directly affected. They may be connected to the conflict through place of origin, family, ethnicity, religious faith, identity or a keen awareness, and be suffering as a consequence. Knowing that the local council is making a concerted effort for peace will give those citizens assurance that their well being and the human rights of their broader community matter.
Our collective well being is supported when we speak out and condemn acts of violence as a community, especially the daily atrocities committed against children. It is distressing for many in the community to witness these with no means of taking action.
Councils are making a difference. There are a number of local bodies, worldwide and in Aotearoa that are calling for a permanent ceasefire. In Aotearoa, Whanganui and Far North Councils have recently passed motions for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza. When our council passes this motion, it is not acting alone, instead it is joining a circle of like-minded local bodies.
A ceasefire is not taking sides. It is about saving civilian lives, and breaking the intolerable cycle of violence and human suffering in Gaza. It is the first important step towards a just solution and a lasting peace for Palestine.
PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD
As of June 2024, the state of Palestine has been recognised as a sovereign state by 143 of the 193 member states of the UN. On May 10 2024, at the UN general Assembly, NZ voted in favour of a resolution that admitted Palestine as a full member of the UN but has not formally recognised Palestinian statehood which is a necessary prerequisite for New Zealand's longstanding position on a two state solution.