Stand Up For UNRWA – Rally Against NZ Govt Inaction On Israel’s Ban On Humanitarian Agency

Tuesday, 21 January 2025, 4:55 pm
Press Release: Justice for Palestine

Alternative Jewish Voices and Justice for Palestine are
organising a rally outside MFAT to tell the New Zealand
government they need to urgently take steps to stand up for
UNRWA – the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian
Refugees.

Date: Wednesday, 22 January
2025

Time:
12:30-1:30pm

Location:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 195 Lambton Quay,
Wellington

On 30 January the Israeli Knesset’s ban
on UNRWA operating in Occupied Palestine will take effect.
UNRWA provides essential humanitarian aid to the people of
Gaza, and beyond, serving 5.9 million Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA is also essential to Israel fulfilling its legal
obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the
civilian population.

The ban will have
devastating humanitarian consequences, but it will also have
political consequences, serving to undermine the
indivisibility of the Palestinian refugee community. UNRWA
is the only agency mandated to serve Palestinian refugees as
a single national community, across dispersed locations, and
hold records essential to refugees’ ability to claim their
rights.

As Marilyn Garson spokesperson
for Alternative Jewish Voices said: “Food is desperately
needed in Gaza. But Palestinians have a right to more than
food – they have a right to be free and self-determining.
UNRWA’s mandate is to serve Palestinians until a political
solution is found. Israel’s ban of UNRWA is both immoral
and illegal.”

Advertisement – scroll to continue reading

Alternative Jewish Voices, with
support from Justice for Palestine, have written to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the rally will underscore
their calls on the government to:

• Speak up for
  UNRWA on the international stage and state that NZ’s
  position is that the ban must be abandoned
• Impose
  consequences if the ban does take effect, including imposing
  sanctions and suspending diplomatic relations with
  Israel

© Scoop Media

Using Scoop for work?

Scoop is free for personal use, but you’ll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features.

Join Pro Individual
Find out more

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}