PSNA angry and disgusted at government decision to halt funding to UNRWA

PSNA is angry and disgusted at the government decision to halt funding to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) over Israeli allegations a handful of its 30,000 staff were involved in the October 7th attack on Israel.

It’s clear UNRWA was not involved as an organisation and yet the Palestinian people of Gaza are once again to face “collective punishment” – this time with New Zealand acting alongside apartheid Israel to deny desperately-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. 

UNRWA is already “extremely desperate” after its funding has been halted by other countries 

“It’s an outrageous decision given the dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. New Zealand is joining the Israel/US stranglehold on humanitarian relief for Gaza,” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “The decision means we are part of Israel’s war crime of “collective punishment” against the Palestinian people of Gaza”. 

Israel’s incessant attacks on UNRWA are designed to take attention away from last Friday’s interim orders from the International Court of Justice which found a prima facie case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

As a signatory to the Genocide Convention New Zealand has a responsibility to PREVENT genocide and yet the PMs focus is on attacking an agency providing relief for Palestinians who are the victims of these genocidal attacks.”

Why are Israeli attacks on UNRWA so much more important for the Prime Minister than genocide committed against the Palestinian people?

It’s immoral, unethical and downright despicable.

This is a victory for the deeply racist pro-Israel lobby and their anti-Palestinian enablers in parliament.