Whaaingaroa Palestine Solidarity are holding a silent vigil on Saturday 22 March on Bow Street, to bring local people’s attention to the desperate situation in Gaza and parts of the Occupied West Bank, Syria and Lebanon. We invite anyone supportive to join us.
“We need to keep talking about the situation of Palestinians as, although the Israeli army invasion and constant bombings have mostly stopped in Gaza, Palestine is still under siege and occupied”, said Gillian Marie from the local Palestinian support group. All borders are closed, and at this time no aid of any kind is getting through to the over two million people living in Gaza in the ruins of their homes, towns, villages, businesses, farms, markets, hospitals, schools, universities, and civil services. “With no access to clean water or sewage disposal, no food, fuel, and few medical supplies, conditions are genocidal”, she added. The situation in the Israeli Occupied Palestinian West Bank has also deteriorated, with the demolition of houses and forced removal of over 40,000 Palestinians since late February. These Palestinians have no place to go.
Palestinian supporters throughout the country have requested that the NZ government raise these issues with the Israeli government, and speak out against US President Trump’s plans for Gaza and turn it into a holiday resort for the rich. A further request is that the government enable Palestinians in Gaza to re-unite with their family members living in Aotearoa, providing a special visa as has been done for Ukrainians reuniting with family members here.
Come along on Saturday 22 March, 11am.
