Palestine Forum urges New Zealand to address Gaza food shortages

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand has called on the New Zealand government to take action against what it describes as the “weaponisation” and “engineering” of starvation in the Gaza Strip. The advocacy group stated that the deliberate restriction of food, water, and medicine constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

Maher Nazzal, chair of the Palestine Forum, emphasized that famine can result from political decisions to obstruct humanitarian assistance and destroy essential infrastructure, such as bakeries and water systems, rather than just natural disasters. The group’s call comes following reports that the UN World Food Programme is being forced to cut food aid for approximately 500,000 Palestinians due to tightening blockades.

The Forum is urging the New Zealand government to demand sustained humanitarian access, press for an end to policies that deprive civilians of necessities, and support independent investigations into potential violations of international law.