PSNA Newsletter No 194 -25 June 2025
25 Pipiri 2025
25 June 2025
Newsletter No 194
Items in this newsletter
1. Israel’s orgy of killing in Gaza goes on…
2. Something you can do now to make a difference…
3. Iran is not the end game – it’s the diversion
4. Nationwide rallies/marches/vigils this week
5. Yousef Aljamal Aotearoa NZ tour – last chance to hear him…
6. Upcoming webinar on Zionism
7. No vote for sanctions against Israel in Timaru or Invercargill yet…
8. “Unerased” opening night in Tamaki
9. Another devastating report on BBC bias
10. Potae for Palestine project
11. Putting National MPs under pressure in Whanganui
12. Quotes of the week
13. A small rural town in New Zealand shows how to organise for Palestine
14. Maersk divests from illegal Israeli settlements
15. And a local win for BDS
16. Dunedin City Council votes for sanctions on Israel
17. Horrifying poll results from Israel
18. Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!
19. Important stories from last week
20. Merchandise for sale
21. SodaStream stickers available
Israel’s orgy of killing in Gaza goes on – pick up your phone now!
As we write this, news has come in overnight that Israeli troops have killed another 80 Palestinians in Gaza with another massacre at an Israeli/US run aid distribution site (Israel refuses to allow the UN to run food distribution in Gaza) where Israeli troops opened fire on starving Palestinians.
Our political leaders will be condemned by history just as those who stayed silent during the Holocaust are now condemned.
But righteousness without action is not enough.
What you can do right now to make a difference…
Phone parliament 0800 7273 6282 now and often and leave a message for the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and another for our Minister of Foreign Affairs urging them to Sanction Israel for Genocide.
Iran is not the end game - it's the diversion
Over the past week the whole world has fixed its attention on the US bombing for Israel in its war on Iran.
Indeed Winston Peters is correct when he says the risk of a major war is the closest it's been since the US-Soviet Union Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
And the joint US/Israel attacks on Iran have precipitated a nuclear arms race in the Global South.
But Israel, for all the rhetoric, still sees the real war aim as not the destruction of Iran's ability to build nuclear weapons, or overthrow of its government.
For Israel the real aim for more than a century, has been the expansion of its territory and the expulsion of Palestinians. That was, and still is, the Zionist dream.
That is why, in the final backwards and forwards of the final day of the missile strikes earlier this week - more Palestinians in that day died from IDF attacks than Israelis and Iranians killed each other.
Just as when the world was at last starting to talk about calling Israel to account for four months of the most intensive blockade of Gaza and the imminent starvation of hundreds of thousands of it inhabitants, Israel sought a diversion in Iran.
The European Union, hesitantly talking of calling off trade relation talks, suddenly switched to being back on with what they claim was Israel's desperate need to respond to its greatest non-existent threat from Iran.
So, the message for PSNA supporters is clear. The genocide in Gaza has not gone away. The regional attacks by Israel are yet more evidence of Israel being both the regional and Occupied Territory warmonger.
We are rolling out at least two major campaigns in the next three weeks. We are keen to bring the focus back to Gaza. There's plenty to do.
Nationwide rallies/marches/MP protests/vigils this week
To view events around Aotearoa:
Go to the PSNA Homepage – www.PSNA.nz
Scroll down to the button “For a list of events Nationwide, please click here - Check back often for updates”
Click the button
Check back on Friday for any moves, adds or changes
Or events are on the PSNA Facebook events page here
There are more than 25 events around the Motu this week.
Or Scroll down to the bottom of this Newsletter to get to the detailed list of events around the motu this week.
Dr Yousef Aljamal’s tour to Aotearoa New Zealand this month
And a last chance to hear Yousef in Wellington:
Thursday 26 June, 5.30pm
Kilbirnie Masjid, 7-11 Queens Drive, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Dr Yousef Aljamal’s tour is going well with brilliant feedback from around the country.
Yousef is a natural storyteller and has captivated audiences around the country. There are just a few more opportunities to hear him speak – get to one of them if you can.
Yousef meets with Green MPs at parliament
Yousef in Thames
Zionism and western Judeo-Christian identity - upcoming webinar
Register for Zionism and western Judeo-Christian identity here
No vote for sanctions against Israel in Timaru or Invercargill yet…
A great presentation by local Palestine solidarity supporters to Timaru City Council on Tuesday this week was unsuccessful in getting the council to adopt a procurement policy to exclude companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Well done to the Timaru group – the only failure is in not trying.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360733335/brief-news-bites-wednesday-june-25
However the council is reviewing its procurement policy shortly so another opportunity will come up soon.
Timaru supporters after the presentation
Meanwhile in Invercargill on Tuesday the council was split 6 – 6 on the PSNA procurement resolution with the Mayor Nobby Clark then voting against the motion to defeat it 7 – 6. Another opportunity will come after the local body elections in October.
“Unerased” – opening night for second season
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand is proud to announce the opening of UNERASED: Made in Palestine, an exhibition by Emily Hartley-Skudder and Pinky Fang, featuring set design by Nathan Taare.
Opening Night: Thursday, 27 June | 6:00–8:00pm
Venue: 250 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Exhibition Dates: 28 June – 12 July
Opening Hours: 12:00–6:00pm | Wednesday to Sunday
We warmly invite you to experience this moving and imaginative tribute to Palestinian culture and resilience.
Another devastating report on BBC pro-Israel bias
Here is another devastating report of the dreadful BBC bias in reporting on the Middle East.
It's important to realise that TVNZ and RNZ are both equally guilty of precisely the same racist bias against Palestinians.
Potae for Palestine
A new knitting initiative for Palestine. If you are a knitter you can get more details about the project on Facebook here and you can get the basic pattern for the hats here.
Putting National MPs under pressure in Whanganui
Quotes for the week
“We continue to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that [Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003, though pressure has probably built on him to do so.”
—2025 Annual Threat Assessment,
“Israel’s military capacity is dependent on the high levels of military aid it has received from the United States for the last five decades – including $17.9 billion in support since October 2023. That aid has ramped up over the last year allowing Israel to wage this war.”
—Stephanie Savell; Director, Costs of War Project - Brown University
“Palestinian lives have been so devalued.
It is now the routine to shoot & kill desperate & starving people while they try to collect little food from a company made of mercenaries. Inviting starving people to their death is a war crime. Those responsible [for] this system must be held accountable.
This is a disgrace & a stain on our collective consciousness.”
—Philip Lazzarini; Commissioner General of UNRWA
“[T]he path to survival for Iran is not disarmament—it is deterrence. Iran may not yet be racing to build a nuclear bomb, but if the regime comes to believe that collapse is inevitable without it, it may sprint to make sure no one else dares to come for them again.”
—Narges Bajoghli; Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies,
School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.
“To strike Iran while diplomacy was ongoing undermines his push for peace elsewhere including with Putin. Why would Russia or any other country negotiate with Trump going forward? … Trump has sacrificed significant diplomatic leverage for narrow military gains of uncertain duration, and in doing so, has put the United States at risk of another costly Middle East war that will further diminish U.S. global influence and American prosperity.”
—Jennifer Kavanagh; Director of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities
“The U.S. obviously still commits war crimes, but the U.S. is guided by military lawyers who read the Geneva Conventions and make some kind of conscientious effort to abide. The Israeli government has pretty much ripped up the Geneva Conventions, has interpreted them out of existence.”
—Ken Roth; US Attorney, formerly Director of Human Rights Watch
A small NZ rural town works for Palestine – an example to us all…
There are groups acting in solidarity with Palestine right around the country. Here is a brief report from one such group in a small rural town which has ideas that others could use to help build local support and solidarity for Palestine.
We had nine at our last meeting which is really encouraging. We are a busy group. Just to keep you informed.
We are showing 'The Doctor's Wife' next Saturday, and "Gaza: Journalists Under Fire" on 16 July.
Also a 4th Silent Vigil on 12 July, last Saturday of School holidays. We want to have one about every month to six weeks although our town is quieter in the winter.
Also planning a 'Rock for Palestine' later in year, with support of a local cafe (free venue for 80 people) and local musicians also offering skills/time for free. Selling tickets for $20 so we should raise good money for medical support for Gaza.
Plus we do flag waving and have a table with info and merchandise, once a month at our Creative market.
Also lobbying our dead-in-the-mud National MP and our local councillors who are National supporters except for two Māori women.
Maersk divests from illegal Israeli settlements – a victory for BDS
Read the story here
And a local victory for BDS…
PSNA media release 19 June 2025
PSNA congratulates Mercury Energy abandoning contract with Israel’s Ormat Technologies but Contact Energy should follow
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is congratulating Mercury Energy’s terminating its contract with Israel’s Ormat Technologies to design the Ngatamariki geothermal power station near Taupo.
PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says it appears Mercury has acknowledged the legal jeopardy of Israeli companies operating throughout the world.
“The International Court of Justice last year declared Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal and called on everyone to stop giving ‘aid or assistance’ to Israel which will help it to maintain its illegal occupation.”
“Mercury’s decision is in line the ICJ findings and we welcome it as a victory for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign to isolate Israel.”
“No New Zealand companies should have any dealings with Israel, either directly or indirectly.”
“Israel is a rogue genocide and apartheid state – a threat and an embarrassment to all of humanity,” Nazal says.“But the Ormat contract with Mercury is not the only one. We are now renewing our calls on Contact Energy to do the same and cut its links with Ormat Technologies.”
“If Contact doesn’t follow Mercury, then I’m sure many electricity consumers will take the Israeli connection in mind and so switch from Contact to Mercury.”
Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair PSNA
Dunedin City Council votes to support Sanctions on Israel
It was a roller coaster of a day. Mayoral candidate Cr Barker said she would vote for it, but was absent, which strikes me as suspicious (though any comments I could make are only conjecture).
It ended up in a tie, and thankfully our friend Marie Laufiso was the meeting Chair, and cast the deciding vote in favour.
The councillors mostly fell along expected lines, with the right-wingers arguing that it was not 'core business' of the DCC. They were almost universally silent throughout the proceedings until the pre-vote comments.
The speakers for the motion were genuinely outstanding - a real dream team of local solidarity voices. You can watch them here: https://www.youtube.com/live/aALdnWSNs0c?si=uORh6VlJ8jhyUo34
The speakers against were old mate Pastor Woodley, who fell into obviously false Israeli talking points when questioned, a Christian Zionist who pretended he just didn't want council to discuss the issue, and a ratepayers' association guy who got things wrong throughout his contribution and was cut through by questioning. To my eye, the fact that seven still voted against it suggests that they had made their decision before the meeting. The biggest wildcard was Cr. Houlahan, a bit of an erratic personality, who I think was actually swayed to support by the speakers.
Our supporters packed out the room and gallery outside where the meeting was streamed.
The horrifying results of last month’s Pennsylvania State University Poll
When any country’s leaders engage in genocidal rhetoric against other people, as Israeli leaders are doing against Palestinians, this is picked up by the population, right down to the individual soldiers who do the killing.
Condemning genocidal hate speech is the starting point. Our government hasn’t got there yet.
Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!
Remember possible action for local groups
For groups affiliated to PSNA we suggest the following actions could be taken at any time in support of this campaign
The Silence of the Sultans: Muslim Regimes and the Holocaust of our Time here
Israel and Iran - what next? here
The Folly of A War With Iran here
Twyford condemns weak action by NZ over Israel’s ruthless apartheid here
Jews Speak Out: Israel’s Genocide “Worse Than Nazis” here
Egypt's Crackdown on the Global March to Gaza here
The real reason Israel attacked Iran here
Important stories from last week
Editor’s picks
Israel Turns Gaza Aid Distribution Sites Into Open Killing Fields here
US private contractors in Gaza – Al Shabaka podcast here
Shipping giant Maersk divests from companies linked to Israeli settlements here
NZ’s Islamic Council calls on Luxon to condemn Israel over ‘unprovoked’ military strikes here
Caitlin Johnstone: We are, of course, being lied to about Iran here
Twyford condemns weak action by NZ over Israel’s ‘ruthless’ apartheid here
Other stories
Egyptian crackdown on Gaza blockade busters but kiwi activists vow to defeat genocide here
Inside the Hamas unit fighting Israeli armed gangs that loot aid and facilitate displacement in Gaza here
Iran-Israel-US war here
Self-proclaimed “peacemaker” drags US into another war here
It's Not Just Netanyahu. A Lot of Israelis Want Genocide, Too here
They cooked up their own intelligence here (Chris Hedges)
Report from James Elder, UNICEF Global Spokesperson, Gaza here
The Perils of Escalation with Iran here
Israel's attack on Iran: The violent new world being born is going to horrify you here
Israelis ‘now realise’ what Palestinians and Lebanese have been suffering, says analyst here
Issa Amro: Youth Against Settlements – ‘life is very hard, the Israeli soldiers act like militia’ here
Is genocide the new normal? Could Israel and the US destroy Iran? here
Why Israel’s shock and awe has proven its power but lost the war here
Eugene Doyle: Team Genocide and the West’s war on Iran here
Jonathan Cook: Greta Thunberg tried to shame Western leaders – and found they have no shame here
We’re building the biggest people-powered resolution in shareholder history. Join us and hold Microsoft accountable here
Israel and Iran: The Remnants of Colonialism Still Haunt West Asia here
Merchandise for sale
We are ready to mail to you any of our t-shirts, long ($35) and short ($30) sleeved, hoodies ($45) bumper stickers ($3), Tino/Palestine pins ($3) flags ($10) and other items plus postage.
See more on the PSNA website here.
Email Merchandise@PSNA.nz with your order.
Sodastream stickering is going gangbusters…
Spitfire Square Woolworths in Ōtautahi Christchurch – plastering red tape over our “Boycott Sodastream” stickers – they are too hard to get off!
So frustrated at being unable to remove boycott SodaStream stickers Spitfire Square Woolworths in Ōtautahi have taken to covering them with red stickers – the hassle factor here is working…
If you’d like some stickers for sodastream email your name and address to Merchandise@PSNA.nz and we will send them to you.
Reminder: Annual Dates for Palestine Solidarity
28 Mar – 4 Apr Israel Apartheid Week
30 Mar Land Day Palestine
5 Apr Palestinian Childs Day
9 Apr Deir Yassin massacre - Irgun Terrorism - 107-120 Palestinian men, women and children massacred
17 Apr Palestinian Prisoners Day
11 May World Kufiya Day
15 May Nakba Day – marking the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Palestine in 1948
5 Jun Nakba Day - Start of 1967 War - Land Grab – Invasion of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt and Syria - 5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967
20 Jun Attack on Gaza - 6–21 May 2021 (2 weeks and 1 day)
16-18 Sep 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres
28 Sep Second Intifada - 28 Sept 2000 – 8 Feb 2005
2 Nov Balfour Declaration
29 Nov United Nations - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
8 Dec "First Intifada - 8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993
Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign?
We will need some serious money to make our campaign as effective as possible. For example, we will need somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 to bring speakers to New Zealand over the next year and organise large public meetings to help spread the message.
You can help. Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign? In other words, can you afford to make an automatic payment of $5 per month to support the Palestinian struggle? (If you can afford more that would be great!)
Our account details are:
Account name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)
North Island
Rawene - Documentary: The Settlers, Louie Theroux
Saturday 28 June
5:30 pm – Followed by shared Kai
Rawene Hall, 9 Parnell St, Rawene
Kerikeri - Rally
First Saturday of the Month
Whangarei
Saturday 28 June
No Rally this weekend
Auckland – Stand for Palestine
Monday – Friday
3:00 – 4:00 pm at the US Consulate - 23 Customs Street East
4:00 – 5:00 pm at Te Komititanga Britomart Square
Auckland - Picket at British Consulate
Wednesday June 25
12:00 mid-day
151 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Auckland - Public Talk by Yousef Aljamal: The unheard voices of Palestinian Child Prisoners
Friday 27 June
6:30 pm
Wesley Community Centre, Tarapunga Room - 740 Sandringham Road Extn.
Waiheke – Market Stall – hosted by Stand With Palestine Waiheke!
Every Saturday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ostend Market, Waiheke Island
Auckland – Banners around Tamaki Makaurau
Every Saturday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join the team – text John on 021 899 659
Auckland – Rally – Guest Speake Yousef Aljamal
Saturday 28 June
2:00 pm
Te Komititanga – Britomart Square
Auckland - Public event: Vigil with Yousef Aljamal - Uniting faith-based communities to stand collectively for Children of Palestine
Saturday 28 June
6:00 pm
City Side Baptist Church, 8 Mt Eden Road, Grafton
Thames – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
(Hosted by The Basket – Social and Environmental Justice - Hauraki)
first Saturday of the month
Tauranga – Flag Waving
Sunday 29 June
11:00 am
Bethlehem shopping center, SH2 Bethlehem
Hamilton – Flag Waving for Palestine
Every Saturday
1:00 pm
Flynn Park, Cnr Wairere Drive & Naylor, Hamilton
Hamilton
No Rally this weekend
Hamilton – Dr Yousef Aljamal talk
Friday July 4
6:45 pm
Ethos Café Hamilton
Raglan
Hosted by Whaingaroa Palestine Solidarity
No event notified for this weekend
Cambridge - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Cambridge Town Hall
Rotorua – Rally for Palestine
Every Thursday
4:30 pm
National MP Todd McClay’s Office - Cnr Amohau and Ranolf St lights, Rotorua
Napier - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Marine Parade Soundshell Roundabout
Hastings – Rally for Palestine
Every Sunday
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Hastings Town Clock – Hastings CBD
Palmerston North - Rally
Every Sunday
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North
Ngāmotu-New Plymouth – Flags on the Bridge
Saturday 28 June
1:00 pm
Paynters Ave Bridge, New Plymouth
Whanganui - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Riverside Market, Whanganui
Martinborough – Vigil for Palestine
Every Wednesday
11:00 am
Memorial gate - Martinborough Square, at the end of SH53
Masterton - Gathering for Gaza
Every Sunday
9:30 am
Town Hall Lawn, Masterton
Wellington – Public Seminar with Dr Yousef Aljamal
Wednesday 25 June
5:30 pm
Victoria University, Vivian Street VSLT2, 139 Vivian Street, Te Aro.
Wellington – Flags on the Bridge
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Every Friday
7:15 – 8:15 am
Hill Street bridge Overbridge, Wellington
Wellington – Rally at Wellington Hospital
(hosted by Aotearoa Healthcare workers for Palestine)
First Friday of the month
Wellington – ' Vivian Street Takeover For Gaza '
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective with Teachers for Palestine)
Saturday June 28
1:00 pm
Corner Vivian and Victoria Streets
See https://www.instagram.com/falastin_tea_collective for further details
South Island
Nelson – Flag Waving
Saturday June 28
11:00 am
Rocks Rd, Tahunanui Beach end
Blenheim - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Blenheim Railway Station
Picton – Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Picton Foreshore
Christchurch – Flags for Palestine
Every Friday
4:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Christchurch – Rally for Palestine
Saturday June 28
1:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance
Dunedin
Saturday June 28
No Rally notified for this weekend
Keep an eye out for July. . .
Invercargill – Meeting at Environment Southland- amend their procurement policy to alignment with UNSC2334
(hosted by Invercargill Stands With Palestine)
A large group is needed
Wednesday June 25 (changed from 11th)
10:00 am (meeting up at 9:45 am)
Environment Southland, Price Street, Invercargill
Invercargill
(hosted by Invercargill Stands With Palestine)
Sunday June 29
No event this weekend
Hosting a Documentary on July 5
More ways you can get involved
Forward this Newsletter – If you know people who may be interested in this movement, please forward this Newsletter to them.
Join in local activities in your area - Contact Secretary@PSNA.nz if you would like to know where and how to get Flags and Banners
Help set up a Students for Justice in Palestine groups on your campus
Tell Your MP your opinions on Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.
Write Letters to Newspapers – Call Talkback Radio
Keep in touch with the campaign on social media
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network website: https://www.PSNA.nz
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: Secretary@PSNA.nz
The Palestine Human Rights Campaign produces the In Occupied Palestine newsletter. It is a regular daily newsletter on the daily situation in Palestine, compiled by Leslie Bravery and emailed to subscribers. If you would also like to become a subscriber, please contact Leslie at “lesliebravery @ icloud .com” (remove the spaces to use as an email address) for further information.
Keep Updated on our Facebook pages and websites (listed below)
Human rights for Uyghur refugees - In line with our support for human rights for the people of Palestine we have added our name to the petition in support of human rights for Uyghur refugees so they can be included in the government’s refugee quota. PSNA members who wish to also sign this petition can do so here - https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/open-letter-let-s-show-compassion-to-the-uyghur-community
PSNA Groups
PSNA National Committee
Website: www.PSNA.nz
Chair - John Minto: Chair@PSNA.nz
Secretary - Neil Scott: Secretary@PSNA.nz
Regional Groups
Bay of Islands PSN Bay of Islands (Email)
Whangarei PSN Whangarei (Facebook)
Auckland PSN Auckland – Tamaki Makaurau (Website)
Hamilton Palestine Human Rights Campaign Waikato (Facebook)
Tauranga Tauranga Moana 4 Palestine (Facebook)
Napier/Hastings Aotearoa Standing with Palestine (Facebook)
Palmerston North PSN Palmerston North (Email)
New Plymouth PSN Taranaki (Facebook)
Wellington PSN Wellington (Email)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSN Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)