John --

Thousands of Kiwis have taken to the streets to voice their concerns about the war in Gaza, but National politicians continue to sit on their hands as the slaughter continues.

Meanwhile, some Palestinian Kiwis exist on a knife’s edge, fearing every day they will get the worst possible news about relatives stuck in the active war zone of Gaza. 

So why hasn’t the National Government issued a special humanitarian visa for the family members of New Zealanders trapped in Gaza when Israeli military action has killed an estimated 40,000 people and displaced around two million people?

The Government must show some compassion and create a special visa to allow Palestinians with family in New Zealand to be reunited with them here.

Add your voice: use our quick email form to request Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford extend visas to families of Kiwi Palestinians.

In government, Labour showed with the evacuation of Kabul that we can act decisively to save people at risk. And in the case of Ukraine, the Labour Government gave the hundreds of family members of Kiwis in the war zone the chance to take shelter with their families in New Zealand.

We did it because it was the right thing to do. Palestinians with family here deserve the same support to escape conflict as Ukrainian nationals. To not do so for the people of Gaza is a disgraceful double standard.

The right thing to do is to give Kiwi Palestinians the chance to help their family members take shelter from the war and find safety in New Zealand.

Phil Twyford

Labour Spokesperson for Immigration

www.labour.org.nz