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To: Vice-Chancellors Dawn Freshwater, Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, Neil Quigley, Jan Thomas, Nic Smith, Cheryl de la Rey, Grant Edwards and Helen Nicholson

Open Letter: Aotearoa New Zealand's Universities to Stand in Solidarity with Palestine

1. We urge all Vice-Chancellors to release a joint statement in solidarity with Palestine that condemns Israel’s genocidal attacks on Palestinians and calls for an immediate ceasefire and end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. If all Vice-Chancellors cannot agree to make a joint statement, we urge those who do agree to issue a joint statement or separate statements;

2. We call on all signatories of this open letter to include the following statement in the signature of their University and/or professional email addresses: “We, University students, staff and alumni of the Universities in Aotearoa New Zealand call on our Universities to stand in solidarity with Palestine and take a stand against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.”

Why is this important?

We, the students, staff, and alumni of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Universities, urge you to release a joint statement on behalf of our Universities standing in solidarity with Palestine. We call for this statement to condemn Israel’s genocidal attacks on Palestinians and call for an immediate ceasefire and end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.

To understand why this joint statement from our Universities is urgently needed, it is important that you acknowledge that Palestine has been subject to Israel’s settler-colonial violence for the past 75 years. As an independent UN expert reported last year, for 55 of these years, “the Israeli military occupation has prevented the realisation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, violating each component of that right and wilfully pursuing the ‘de-Palestinianisation’ of the occupied territory.” This expert also affirmed that Israel's endeavours in Palestine are “illegal”, amount to “gross violations of international law, including racial segregation and subjugation” and are “indistinguishable from settler-colonialism.”

Similarly, a UN-appointed Commission of Inquiry into Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine concluded last year that “by continuing to occupy [Palestinian] territory by force, Israel incurs international responsibilities and remains accountable for violations of the rights of the Palestinians, both individually and as a people.”

On 7 October, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the Palestinians of Gaza would pay an “immense price” for the actions of Hamas fighters. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, also stated that the Israeli government holds the entire Palestinian population of Gaza responsible for the actions of militant groups, and should therefore be subject to collective punishment and unrestricted use of force, saying: “It is an entire nation out there that is responsible.”

Since 7 October, Israel, with the support of the United States, has killed at least 9,061 people in Gaza, including at least 3,760 children as of 2 November. Israel’s attacks have also displaced at least 1.4 million people in Gaza, with approximately 629,000 of them seeking refuge in 150 UN emergency shelters. It is also estimated that at least 2,200 people are currently buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza.

A group of independent UN experts have repeatedly stated that Israel’s attacks on Palestinians are genocidal and constitute war crimes and violations of international law, remarking:

“We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide. The time for action is now. Israel’s allies also bear responsibility and must act now to prevent its disastrous course of action. The Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the Jabalia refugee camp is a brazen violation of international law – and a war crime. Attacking a camp sheltering civilians including women and children is a complete breach of the rules of proportionality and distinction between combatants and civilians.”

In terms of the reasons for Israel’s genocidal attacks on Palestinians, international human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber noted in his resignation letter from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that this “textbook case of genocide” is “rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial-settler ideology” which “has entered its final phase, toward the expedited destruction of the last remnants of indigenous Palestinian life in Palestine.”

As a collective of Aotearoa New Zealand's University communities, we want to highlight that a key part of Israel’s genocide against Palestine is its epistemicide due its targeted attacks on Universities in Gaza. These attacks are not only murdering Palestine’s University communities, they are also systematically destroying the rich knowledges, histories and literatures of Palestine, without which our world, and our understanding of it, will forever be incomplete. To be clear, Universities that fail to condemn these attacks can no longer claim to be genuinely committed to the pursuit of knowledge and any meaningful vision of a local and global scholarly community.

In our Universities, we teach and learn about the genocidal violence that has occurred and is still occurring around the world - from the Holocaust against Jewish peoples in Europe to the Crown’s ongoing violence against Māori here in Aotearoa New Zealand. During these lessons, we often ask how so many people, including those with great influence and power, can enable such violence and stay silent when marginalised groups are being dehumanised and murdered.

Now, many of us no longer have to ask this question, as we are seeing this enabling and silence in real time around the world, including here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Not only is our country's media and government failing to condemn Israel’s genocidal violence, each of you, as the leaders of our Universities, are failing to do so as well. We note that some of you have released statements incorrectly framing this genocide as “escalating conflict in the Middle East”, and others among you are choosing to remain silent.

Some might say that it would not make any difference if our Universities in Aotearoa New Zealand stood in solidarity with Palestine. However, the reality is that our Universities play a crucial role as the “critic and conscience of society" which means your enabling statements and silences are helping to allow this genocide to continue by making it appear like we, as communities of learners, teachers, researchers and professionals, deem it acceptable.

*Full letter here: https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/university-communities-call-for-solidarity-with-palestine*

Links

Updates

2023-12-19 15:27:23 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
James Brock, Lecturer, University of Auckland
Niamh Pritchard, Alcohol and Drug Clinician, Student Health and Counselling, University of Auckland
Tanya Ruka, Lecturer Mātauranga Māori in Design, Victoria University of Wellington
Helena McAnally, Research Fellow, University of Otago
Jessamine Fraser, Research Assistant / Lecturer / PhD candidate, AUT & Te Pūkenga
Liv Tennet, Student Leadership Programmes Coordinator, University of Auckland
Dr Josephine Varghese, Lecturer, University of Canterbury
Alex Barton, Technical Demonstrator, Massey University
Bianca Parker, Hub Adviser, University of Auckland
Kere Wylie, Ph.D. researcher/tutor, Victoria University of Wellington
Kate Nicholls, Senior Lecturer, Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology

2023-12-19 15:26:00 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
C Rudzinski, Programme Advisor, University of Auckland
Zac, Software Developer, University of Auckland
Dr Yahya Sinwar, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Auckland
Kevin Moore, Professor, Lincoln University
Meg Rollandi, Senior Lecturer, Massey University
Nicholas Rowe, Professor, Dance Studies, University of Auckland
Susan Ballard, Associate Professor Art History, Victoria University of Wellington
Catherine Hoad, Senior Lecturer, Music, Massey University
Charlotte Oyston, Senior lecturer, University of Auckland

2023-12-19 15:24:14 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Emily O’Hara, Senior Lecturer, Art + Design, Auckland University of Technology
Sade Lomas, Project Manager, University of Waikato
Dr Ziggy Lever, Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology
Anna Burgin, Assistant Research Fellow, University of Otago
Alice Tappenden, Senior Research Advisor, Massey University
Lhizz Browne, Knowledgebase Administrator, University of Otago
Leighton Williams, Teaching Fellow, University of Otago
Emily Hartley-Skudder, Frances Hodgkins Fellow, University of Otago
Farina Ibnul, School Registrar, Auckland University of Technology
Alex Beattie, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Briar Meads, Professional Teaching Fellow & PhD Candidate, University of Auckland
Emily Keddell, Associate Professor, University of Otago
Rana Daoud, Academic Developer, Victoria University of Wellington

2023-12-19 15:22:21 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Sarah Knox, Lecturer, University of Auckland
Ian Hyslop, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland
Julia Harper-Hinton, Lecturer, University of Auckland
Meg Hamilton, Marketing and Publicity Coordinator, University of Otago
Louisa Woods, Clinical Practitioner, Counselling and Guidance, Massey University
Dr Sereana Naepi, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland
Donna Cormack, Associate Professor, University of Auckland
Farina Ibnul, School Registrar, Auckland University of Technology
Neil Matheson, PTF, University of Auckland
Kiri Edge, Pouhere Rangahau, University of Auckland
Marnie Reinfelds, Professional Teaching Fellow/PhD Candidate, University of Auckland
Naomi Watts, Kaiarataki, Massey University
Erica Farrelly, Student Support Advisor, University of Auckland

2023-12-05 12:14:30 +1300

25 signatures reached

2023-11-30 09:00:05 +1300

10 signatures reached

2023-11-27 14:42:50 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Imogen McRae, Waste Communications Assistant in Sustainability Office, University of Canterbury
Gabbi Courtenay, GTA, University of Auckland
Dr. Peyton Bond, Teaching Fellow, University of Otago
Dr Fairleigh Evelyn Gilmour, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Gender Studies, University of Otago
Caitlin Burke-Govey, Early childhood teacher, Victoria University of Wellington
Kate Ormerod, Research Operations Coordinator, University of Auckland
Jordan Dougherty, Assistant Research Fellow, University of Otago
Anita Gibbs, Academic, University of Otago
Sally Wong, Senior research assistant, University of Auckland
Sophia de Fossard, Project manager, National Institute for Health innovation, University of Auckland

2023-11-27 14:42:26 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Kari Moana Te Rongopatahi, Lecturer in Māori Education, University of Canterbury
Gitanjali Bhatt, Gallery Tech, University of Auckland
Becky Dougherty, Residential Advisor and LLB/BA student, Victoria University of Wellington
Maja Zonjić, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington
Abbie Litten, Alumni Relations, University of Canterbury
Roi Burnett, Research Program Coordinator, University of Auckland
Jennifer de Saxe, staff, Victoria University of Wellington
Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington

2023-11-27 14:42:13 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Bradley Aldridge, Teaching Assistant, Victoria University of Wellington
Tony Guo, Part time lecturer, BVA AUT, Auckland University of Technology
Pelimani Fisi’iahi, Graduate teaching assistant, University of Auckland
Camille, Professor, Auckland University of Technology
Agustina Marianacci, Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology
Dana Salih Toogood, Health Coach, Auckland University of Technology
Hana Pera Aoake, Lecturer (fixed term), University of Canterbury
Mahdis Azarmandi, Senior lecturer, University of Canterbury
David Pomeroy, Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury

2023-11-27 14:41:56 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Dr Elisabeth Rolston, Learning Advisor, University of Canterbury
Phoebe Zeller, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Jude Dragh, Teaching Assistant, University of Auckland
Sian Troath, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Canterbury
Sophie Coomber, Masters, University of Auckland
Maryam Sharifkhani, Postdoc Fellow, University of Canterbury
Miriama Aoake, Professional Teaching Fellow, PhD candidate, University of Auckland
Symone Leota, Student Coordinator, University of Auckland
Ti Lamusse, Lecturer in Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington

2023-11-27 14:41:28 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Hine Funaki, Postdoctoral research fellow, Victoria University of Wellington
Amanda Thomas, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
Faisal Al-Asaad, Teaching fellow and lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Marnie Prickett, Research Fellow, University of Otago
Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, Associate Professor, University of Otago
Aakifa Chida, TA, BDes, Auckland University of Technology
Tara McAllister, Research Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington
Maryam Hassan, End user support engineer, University of Auckland
Dr Elisabeth Rolston, Learning Advisor, University of Canterbury
Phoebe Zeller, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Jude Dragh, Teaching Assistant, University of Auckland
Sian Troath, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Canterbury
Sophie Coomber, Masters, University of Auckland
Maryam Sharifkhani, Postdoc Fellow, University of Canterbury

2023-11-27 14:39:37 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Bonnie-Estelle K. Trotter-Simons, Teaching Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington
Jess Pasisi, Pūkenga, Pacific Islands Studies, University of Otago
Sara Rahmani, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Mara Davis, Research Assistant, Victoria University of Wellington
Georgia McLellan, Research Officer, Massey University
Fiona Hutton, Associate professor in Criminology & Director and of the Institute of Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington
Anna Russell, Staff - marking support (current), Alumni - BA Hons (2022), Victoria University of Wellington
Maia Berryman-Kamp, PhD SACS, RA Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington
Tautemaria Silva, Teaching Felliw, University of Otago
Laerke Rigtrup-Lindemann, Visiting Scholar, University of Waikato

2023-11-27 14:39:14 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Caitlin Merriman, Te Waka Tūhura Elam Curator, University of Auckland
Ruth Soukoutou, GTA/Research Assistant, University of Auckland
Eileen Joy, Professional Teaching Fellow - Social Work, University of Auckland
Rebekah Jaung, Senior Research Fellow, University of Auckland
Keryn Koopu, Tuākana Coordinator/ Master of Arts (Psychology), University of Auckland
Holly Willson, Research Assistant, University of Canterbury
Te Maringi Mai o Hawaiiki, Doctorate of Clinical Psychology + Tutor, University of Auckland
Andrew, Professor, University of Auckland
Liz Beddoe, Professor of Social Work, University of Auckland
Ammon Hāwea Apiata, Māori and Indigenous Research Support Advisor, University of Waikato
Holly Bennett, GTA, University of Auckland

2023-11-27 12:48:08 +1300

UNIVERSITY STAFF SIGNATORIES
Dylan Asafo, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland
Emmy Rākete, Professional Teaching Fellow, University of Auckland
Joe Potter, Assistant Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Chelsea Naepi, Graduate Teaching Assistant & Post-Graduate Student (BA (Hons)/LLB), University of Auckland
Lovely Dizon, Research Assistant, PhD, University of Auckland
Nirvana Haldar, GTA, University of Auckland
Bianca Parker, Hub Adviser, University of Auckland
Arin Hectors, Teaching Assistant, University of Auckland
Kakatarau Te Pou Kohere, Research Assistant, University of Auckland
Brandon Johnstone, Payroll Administrator, University of Otago
Moana Murray, Sessional assistant and Master’s student, University of Waikato
Litia Tuiburelevu, Writer, Filmmaker, Researcher, University of Auckland
Rebekah Bowling, Assistant Lecturer in Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington
Salene Schloffel-Armstrong, Teaching fellow and PhD student, University of Auckland