18 Hui-tanguru 2026
18 February 2026

Newsletter No 228

Items in this newsletter

New Items

Nationwide rallies/marches/vigils this week
Stop kiwis fighting Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza
Thank you Falastin Tea Collective
Parliament officials block NAKBA petition
A stunning win for free speech in the UK!
For Ōtautahi/Christchurch supporters
A great new kiwi-made song – “Eat Sand”
Quotes of the week
A few pics from around the country this week
Important stories this week

REGULAR ITEMS

PSNA National meeting - May 1 to May 3, 2026 - in Rotorua
MPs Complicit with Genocide
Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!
Annual Palestinian Solidarity Dates
How to Donate
Palestine Solidarity Groups around Aotearoa

Nationwide rallies/marches/MP protests/vigils this week

To view events around Aotearoa:

We have an events page on our website as well as a Facebook events page

PSNA Website events page:

You can find it here – www.PSNA.nz/Events

The QR code for the PSNA website events page is this:

It is updated on Wednesday afternoon and ongoing as events are notified to us. Please check back on Friday afternoon to see if there has been Additions or Changes.

Or 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

PSNA Facebook events page

Go to the PSNA Facebook events page here

There are more than 30 events around the Motu this week.

Up to 50 New Zealanders are fighting Israel’s genocide in Gaza

PSNA media release 18 February 2026

PSNA is calling for government accountability to stop and punish New Zealanders going to fight in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

A UK report by Classified, from official Israeli sources, shows 39 dual New Zealand/Israeli citizens, and 11 others with more than one additional passport, are serving in the Israeli Defence Force, which is carrying out genocide in Gaza. (The full dataset is in Hebrew at the foot of the article at this link)

“The news that New Zealanders are participating in ongoing mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza is abhorent,” says Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chair Maher Nazzal. “Our government must do what it can to stop these New Zealanders perpetrating genocide.”

“Israel’s political and military leaders are charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, for example, is wanted for trial on war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

“As well as killing perhaps hundreds of thousands and wholesale starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, Israel is still systematically destroying all civilian infrastructure: schools, hospitals, churches and mosques, farmland and crops. Even New Zealanders’ graves in World War One cemeteries are not immune.”

“There’s no excuse for anyone fighting for a state committing genocide” says Nazzal. “Our government must step in and rigorously investigate the actions of each and every one of these 50 New Zealanders in the IDF.”

“New Zealand has obligations under the international Genocide Convention to do what it can stop a genocide. New Zealand charged Mark Tayor for membership of ISIS in 2004. There is ample precedent. The government must be consistent.”

“All of these New Zealanders serving in the IDF have various degrees of culpability in the genocide, certainly the moment they set foot in Gaza. But they would also be liable for actions at military facilities inside Israel, fuelling up bombers, for example, or calculating missile coordinates.”

“These soldiers must be identified, and their service in Israel’s army examined, alongside their social media accounts and those of the brigades and soldiers they joined.”

“The government must also collaborate with international agencies for evidence of how many of these people have already been identified for investigation of war crimes.”

“The Hind Rajab Foundation is working to identify specific Israeli war criminals for referral to the International Court of Justice,” says Nazzal.

New Zealand law does not specifically prohibit citizens from fighting overseas. But the government must act in this case, where New Zealand citizens are participating in a genocide, and also under our Fourth Geneva Convention obligations, where these New Zealand citizens are also enforcing an illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.

“Despite the so-called October 2025 ceasefire, Israel has continued its daily killing of Palestinians, destruction of infrastructure and occupation creep. Israel still refuses to allow the agreed amount of food, water and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza.”

“Here is a case of direct responsibility by New Zealand citizens, about which the government can’t wash its hands and ignore.”

Maher Nazzal
C0-Chair PSNA

Thank you Falastin Tea Collective

Message from Falastin Tea Collective:

I think you may have heard that we are wrapping up our weekly events this weekend after two years, with our final flags and rally.

It's been a hard decision but we think the time is right. We want the movement here in Te Whanganui-a-tara to move forward in a unified, solid way and we hope that stepping aside will help the community change things up for Palestine, however the community wants that to look. And we will continue to support that path and those leading it. We will leave our Instagram page open for now so we can continue to try to amplify the voices of Palestinians in any way we can and promote and support all advocates and groups here in Aotearoa. We have always said we're happy to handover FTC so that remains a possibility.

We just wanted to say thank you so much for all your support which you offered without question or demand since day one. This includes many across the PSNA network. We are so fortunate to have met you and many others. We're still here for Palestine - possibly doing other activities like outreach but not under the FTC banner.

Have a great rest of the week and thank you again for your steadfastness and for your community.

Message from PSNA to FTC:

Kia ora Francesca and Luke,

Thank you for two years of unwavering commitment.

What you built through Falastin Tea Collective has mattered. Showing up week after week in Te Whanganui-a-Tara takes courage, discipline and heart. Consistency like that shifts culture, even when the results aren’t immediately visible. Please know that your work has contributed to keeping Palestine present, visible, and human in Aotearoa.

Stepping aside so the movement can evolve is not stepping away, it’s leadership of another kind. That humility and clarity speak volumes. The space you created has allowed many to learn, connect, and find their voice. That ripple continues.

We deeply appreciate the openness in offering a handover and in keeping your platform available to amplify Palestinian voices. That spirit of unity is exactly what strengthens movements.

From all of us, thank you for your steadfastness, integrity and solidarity. We look forward to continuing to work alongside you, whether under FTC, another banner, or simply as members of one community committed to justice.

Arohanui and solidarity always.

Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair PSNA

Parliament officials block NAKBA petition

Officials in Parliament don’t like the wording of a new PSNA petition which focuses on what is the prime Palestinian narrative of the dispossession in the Nakba Catastrophe in 1948.

We have been advertising the petition to you our supporters for weeks now, but officials in Parliament are still arguing about the wording, so we still can’t post a functional link to a petition on the Parliament website.

The Nakba Petition has two demands. The first is centred on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 (III) of December 1948. That resolution gives a right of return for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who had been expelled by Zionist terrorist gangs and then, from mid 1948, the State of Israel itself.

The second demand is that when these Palestinians and their families do return to their homes, then Israel grants them a vote in Israeli elections.

Until these two conditions are met, then the petition requests New Zealand cuts all links to Israel.

Parliament officials objected to our use of the words ‘expelled through terror’ to describe the Nakba, since there is no such wording in UNGA 194.

They also demand evidence of New Zealand voting in favour, each and every year, for a reiteration of 194 in the UNGA.

And, though conceding that most Palestinians in land under control of Israel are denied a vote, they say we can’t state this is the same situation as it was in Apartheid South Africa, without qualifying this as just our opinion.

We are working hard to get a form of wording which is acceptable to the bureaucrats, while not conceding to bland and vague expressions which would be acceptable even to the Israeli embassy.

A stunning win for free speech in the UK!

The UK high court has ruled that proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist group is illegal.

Read the full story here and some reaction here

For Ōtautahi/Christchurch supporters

Thurs 26 Feb - Public Lecture "The ICC: Pursuing Justice in Challenging Times": 6pm refreshments for 6.15-7.30pm presentation, UC Faculty of Law, Karl Popper 105, University of Canterbury.

RSVP: bronwyn.frost@canterbury.ac.nz by eob 18 February 2026 for catering purposes. Judge Kimberly Prost of the ICC will speak on the challenges they face as various governments and other bodies of power continue to attempt to undermine the ICC's mission, the international rule of law, and the provision of justice to victims of atrocities, war crimes & genocide.

A great new kiwi-made song – “Eat Sand”

Get the details and hear the song here

Quotes of the week

“The destruction of the natural environment in Gaza is now very well documented.

It is not collateral or incidental, but deliberate.”

—Saeed Bagheri; Lecturer, International Law at the University of Reading

“Top of my concerns for Wadi Gaza are pollution from debris, wastewater, corpses, ammunition, and explosives.”

—Nada Majdalani; Palestine Director, EcoPeace Middle East

A few pics from around the motu

Important stories this week

Editor’s picks

Exclusive: Hamas Says It Will Not Unilaterally Disarm as Trump and Netanyahu Threaten a Return to Full-Scale War here
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate here
Disgusting Israeli War Crime in Gaza Exposed: Thermobaric weapons here
Zionists spraying chemicals that harm plants and humans here
Zionist Epstein leveraged his friendship with the chief of DP World to pitch Israeli logistics infrastructure and cybersecurity investments to the UAE here
The girl from Tahiti in the Epstein files here
Maher Nazzal: The Epstein Files – the real scandal is the silence here
Israel could collapse before its centennial, warns retired Israeli general here
Government increases number of space launches to 1000 per year here
Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action here

Regular items

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PSNA National meeting - May 1 to May 3, 2026 - in Rotorua

Our 2026 national meeting will be held in Rotorua from 5pm Friday May 1 to 2pm Sunday 3 May in Rotorua.

This will be a critically important event for people from around the country to come and evaluate what we have done over the past year and most importantly to plan for the future.

We are fighting the most important human rights issue of the 21st century and we need your help to shape, plan and organize for the future.

More details in coming newsletters.

Regular items

Join the ICC Six Watch

Share the poster on social media – keep alert – email ICC6@PSNA.nz if you find where any of these six genocide deniers are due to show up.

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

Asking your local backpacker accommodation to display the poster and draw it to the attention of any Israeli soldiers here on “rest and recreation” from the genocide.
Pasting the hotline poster (use the version in this newsletter which includes a contact email) around the vicinity of backpacker venues in your local area. This is already happening in some areas.
Hand out flyers to people in the vicinity of your local backpackers
Contact us on the hotline if you come across Israeli soldiers

Merchandise for sale - please check with your local branch and/or contact us Merchandise@PSNA.nz

**Recent new material – leaflets and stickers are free the bucket hats and caps are $25**

If your local branch does not have what you are after 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 large & medium ($10 or $7) and other items plus postage.

The watermelon and the fist stickers will be back in stock early next week.

See more on the PSNA website here.

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)

Nationwide Rally list

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
Or Scroll down to the bottom of this Newsletter for the detailed list of events for this week.
We have added a page to the PSNA website where we now post the Events list. You can find it here – www.PSNA.nz/Events

The QR code for this is:

It is updated on Wednesday afternoon and ongoing as events are notified to us. Please check back on Friday afternoon to see if there has been Additions or Changes.

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