Wednesday, 19 March 2025, 10:10 am Press Release: Green Party
The
Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe
Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its
unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine,
following another day of appalling violence against
civilians in Gaza.
“Aotearoa New Zealand cannot
remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in
Gaza. We can and must act now to sanction Israel for its
crimes, just like we did with Russia for its illegal action
in Ukraine,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe
Swarbrick.
“With Green, Te Pāti Māori and
Labour’s committed support, we now need just six of 68
Government MPs to pass my Unlawful Occupation of Palestine
Sanctions Bill into law.
“In just the last 24 hours,
Israel’s strikes on Gaza have killed at least 400 people,
mostly children and women, and left many more
injured.
“There’s no more time for talk. If we
stand for human rights and peace and justice, our Parliament
must act.
“In September, Aotearoa joined
123 UN Member States to support a resolution calling for
sanctions against those responsible for Israel’s
‘unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including in relation to settler
violence.’
“Our Government has since
done nothing to fulfil that commitment. Our Unlawful
Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill starts that very
basic process.
“No party leader or whip can stop a
Member of Parliament exercising their democratic right to
vote how they know they need to on this Bill. There is no
more hiding behind party lines. All 123 Members of
Parliament are each individually, personally responsible,”
says Chlöe
Swarbrick.
Notes:
Palestinian
authorities reported that 404 people were killed and over
600 people injured in yesterday’s airstrikes by Israel.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the
airstrikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir Al-Balah and
Rafah wiped out entire families.
Israeli military
officials said the IDF targeted Hamas military commanders
and political officials. However, Save the Children reported
that most of those killed in the airstrikes were women and
children.
In recent weeks of the ceasefire, Israel
had cut off power to Gaza, and enforced a total siege on the
entry of aid and supplies into the territory for Palestinian
communities already facing starvation and
illness.
The attacks by Israel take place during the
holy month of Ramadhan, an important month in the Muslim
calendar.
At least 48,577 Palestinians have been
killed, and 112,041 wounded, throughout Israel’s war on
Gaza.
Elsewhere in Palestinian territory, 43
Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank since
last October, a spike of nearly 250%, according to
UNICEF.
Standing Order 288 outlines the process for
Member’s Bills to bypass the member’s bill ballot
(colloquially known as the 'biscuit tin'), with the support
of 61 non-executive members. With 55 Opposition members now
officially in support of Swarbrick’s Unlawful
Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, the support of
just 6 Government MPs is necessary to get the Bill onto the
floor of Parliament.
