Written By:
Mike Smith - Date published:
8:37 pm, April 27th, 2025 - 11 comments
Categories: Ethics, gaza, genocide, human rights, israel -
Tags:
Gallipoli was then. Gaza is now. Gallipoli was a disaster, driven by arrogance and incompetence. Gaza is an atrocity, driven by unconscionable evil.
The news today that the Israeli forces are blockading all entry to Gaza, driving those inside to die of famine as food stocks run out, is appalling beyond belief. It is a deliberate action by the Israeli government driving innocent people to a horrible death.
Following a meeting with Senior Republicans at Mar-a-Lago on Florida, Israeli Defence Minister Ben Gvir posted on X “They expressed support for my very clear position on how to act in Gaza and that the food and aid depots should be bombed in order to create military and political pressure to bring our hostages home safely.”
Those condemning Israel’s actions are the charity and relief agencies, not governments. Winston Peters says he is seriously concerned, and has called for a ceasefire. This does not address the question of Israel’s deliberate action to exterminate the women and children of Gaza through starvation. Ben Gvir is certainly not listening to him.
The Labour Party have been clearer about the Israeli government’s accountability and critical of the New Zealand government’s lack of action.
“Labour has been calling for stronger action from the Government on Israel’s invasion of Gaza, including intervening in South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, and the creation of a special visa for family members of New Zealanders fleeing Gaza. We have also called for an end to all government procurement from companies operating in the Occupied Territories, and for sanctioning individuals acting in breach of international law.
“New Zealand has long supported the UN view that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal. Back in 2016 the then-National Government co-sponsored a successful Security Council resolution that Israel’s settlements in the Occupied Territories were illegal. This makes the inaction by the current National Government even harder to understand.
“The inconsistent application of international law undermines compliance with it. It is time this National-led Government to some positive action beyond mere words to stand up for what is right,” David Parker said.
Our Prime Minister says he will not forget the lessons of Gallipoli. He appears deaf to the lessons of Gaza.
Right on all counts. An unconscionable unwillingness in many to criticise an appalling regime. And NZ Labour has spoken up. So should our PM and Mr Peters.
I hear the anguish about Gaza, and I absolutely agree that what's happening there demands urgent condemnation.
But I feel uneasy when Gallipoli is invoked in this way. Gallipoli is a national tragedy for New Zealand and Australia. A disaster born of overweening arrogance, gross incompetence, and the sheer pointlessness of WWI, yes.
But also, a moment that speaks to sacrifice, loyalty, and courage.
I think Gaza deserves its own full moral clarity, without needing to draw historical comparisons that risk flattening the distinctiveness and dignity of past sacrifices.
Both tragedies deserve to be addressed honestly, on their own terms.
There is nothing, even in the OP – which draws a clear parallel between Gallipoli and Gaza. The only commonality appears to be that people are dying in both, and that they begin with the same letter. The causes and ongoing action – not to mention the level of involvement of the NZ government – are radically different.
A more useful comparison is with Sudan – where widespread conflict has resulted in famine, civilian deaths, war crimes (on both sides), massive destruction of infrastructure, and displacement of over 12 million people. With barely a peep from the international community.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158511
Agreed: Sudan is the better comparison.
You would have thought that ousting Omar al-Bashir and granting South Sudan independence would have turned the tide.
Instead, Darfur still burns, the new regime is barely distinguishable from the old, and 12 million people are displaced. All while the international community (including those loudly flagellating themselves over Gaza) remains almost entirely silent.
It seems that some causes are fashionable, and some victims are forgettable.
plus ça change, and all that.
Loud self-flagellation sounds fatiguing – MSF reports on 'unfashionable' causes.
Good news the fighting in DRC (Rwanda backed opportunists involved) might be ending.
The DRC government has done a deal – minerals for the USA.
A company backed by Gates and Bezos – KoBold is involved.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9w8q91ld75o
https://www.ft.com/content/3c5859db-2a46-4111-b823-865dc284c33b
Given the Chinese government were giving drones to the DRC and Israeli anti-tank missiles were used by the Rwanda backed forces, it looks a lot like an American heist (see Ukraine).
There is no new regime in Sudan.
Those who deposed the former government have been engaged in a civil war for 2 years (the two were army leader and Arab militia leader in Darfur over 20 years ago).
South Sudan has returned to civil war more recently (the last one 2013-2018).
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65297714
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnv5rm71r28o
The ICC should have an interest in Ben-Gvir.
They have already given a direction to Israel as to securing the supply of aid to civilians in Gaza.
Any deliberate act to starve civilians is a war crime, regardless of whether Tom Emmer GOP Majority Whip in the House supports it, or not.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wvvnzp39o
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c20x3xpk7ego
At what point is lack of access to food and medical supplies/equipment and adequate water/power/shelter (and persistent need to move from place to place) facilitating the war famine and disease trifecta (as Lancet warned).
At which point is deliberation as to this course, causation. And how is that causation, different in outcome to a planned genocide?
Abbas puts it that Hamas might deserve it, but the people of Gaza do not.
It is all a bit Hannibal Directive, hostages dying with their captors – here the civilians of Gaza along with their hostages.
If Hamas have first call on the food (and thus they will survive longest) – what is really going on here?
It is all a bit Hannibal Directive, hostages dying with their captors – here the civilians of Gaza along with
their(Hamas) hostages.If Hamas have first call on the food (and thus they will survive longest) – what is really going on here?
True, just not in the way you intended. It would be nice if Israel were to succeed in completely destroying the unconscionable evil involved, but that's an outside chance at best. One thing we can say with confidence is that no amount of rhetoric on behalf of the unconscionable evil by Labour or Green politicians will influence even the NZ government, let alone any foreign ones.
Inevitable.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/559388/israel-s-gaza-aid-blockade-contested-in-world-court-hearings
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/28/un-is-threatened-by-israels-decision-to-cut-ties-with-relief-agency-world-court-told