December 23rd, 2024
The Māori Party is calling on the New Zealand government to support an international independent investigation into the recent discovery of mass graves at two hospitals in Gaza, which were besieged by Israeli forces, according to a media release by the party on Friday.
The mass graves, uncovered at Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals, contain 392 bodies, including children and elderly civilians, some of whom show signs of torture, mutilation, and mass execution. Reports indicate that some victims were found stripped and bound, while others had medical tubes attached, suggesting they were buried alive.
Amidst these horrifying discoveries, the United States has announced an additional $17 billion in aid to Israel and has proposed an investigation led by Israel, without independent oversight. This move has been sharply criticised by Te Pāti Māori co-leader and human rights spokesperson, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who said: “This is a new level of horror that we haven’t seen before. We won’t accept the findings of any investigation that is not independent of Israel and the United States. To do so is to be complicit in covering up one of the worst atrocities ever witnessed.”
Ngarewa-Packer condemned Israel's actions, describing them as a demonstration of "the depths of depravity that humanity can sink to." She added, "It is unconscionable that Aotearoa still maintains diplomatic relations with a nation that is actively committing war crimes."
The Māori Party leader also called for immediate sanctions against Israel and an end to all interactions with the AUKUS military alliance. Highlighting the broader implications, Ngarewa-Packer said, “Palestine is the last bastion of resistance against global Western colonisation. If Palestine is not free, neither are we.”
The United Nations has already demanded an independent international investigation, a position the Māori Party insists New Zealand should endorse to hold Israel accountable for its actions.