‘NZ couldn’t do the basics’: Green Party MP says the Gaza flotilla reflects a cry for action

A Green Party MP says he is worried for the three New Zealanders detained by Israeli forces after they joined an aid flotilla headed for Gaza on Friday.

The New Zealanders were among hundreds of international activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission of around 45 vessels carrying humanitarian supplies.

Organisers say the flotilla aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of a looming famine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is in contact with Israel, and it expects the three New Zealanders to be treated according to international law.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reiterated the Government’s long-standing travel advice against entering Gaza and stressed the risks associated with attempting to breach Israel’s naval restrictions.

The Israeli navy began boarding the flotilla late on Wednesday night. Greece’s foreign minister confirmed that 39 of the ships were intercepted and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, with all passengers reported to be in good health.

Israel has stated that the activists, including the New Zealanders, will be deported to Europe, but it has not specified the countries to which they will be sent.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo/PMN News/Joseph Safiti

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono is concerned about the detentions and acknowledged the efforts of those trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“People are starving. There are aid trucks just sitting outside the border, but Israel won't let them in. This is a massive crisis, humanitarian crisis, a genocide, an ethnic cleansing. All of those labels have been used,” Tuiono says.

“We have tens of thousands of people who have been killed, over 17000 of them are children. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Journalists have been murdered.

“We're beyond diplomacy here. That’s why the global flotilla was called to try to get some of the humanitarian aid and actually draw attention to the world that actually what Israel is doing is wrong.”

Listen to Teanau Tuiono’s full interview below.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters criticised the flotilla aid attempt, saying it is a “woke virtue signalling exercise” and that they should have allowed the military to deliver the goods properly.

Tuiono says Peters’ comments are not helpful and criticised New Zealand's failure to recognise Palestinian statehood. He says it is the bare minimum to “recognise the dignity of a people [and] the self-determination of Palestinian people”.

“People are acting because governments won't. So the actions of those people should be acknowledged and respected for what they are doing. People can see the situation unfolding on the ground,” Tuiono says.

Listen to Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters’ full interview below.

“New Zealand couldn't even do the basics, which was to recognise the state of Palestine. You can see the number of people really disappointed in the actions of the government.”

Organisers of the flotilla have reported losing communications with several vessels after Israeli forces boarded ships in international waters. Israel maintains its naval blockade of Gaza is lawful and says the flotilla attempted to breach an exclusion zone.

Tuiono says New Zealand risks falling behind its international allies on the issue, pointing out that governments in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have already recognised Palestine.

“These are long-time allies of the United States and long-time allies of us. Here they are making the point that even if they have to break ties with the US and Israel on this. Do the bare minimum, recognise the state of Palestine. The next thing to do is to sanction Israel for their war crimes.”