Mana News Joe Trinder

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is the 21st century coal face of a brutal colonisation so Maori television in solidarity decided to send two reporters to Palestine facilitated by “Kia ora Gaza” to film the  Freedom Flotilla III attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian people are trapped in the world’s largest concentration camp by a colonial power that won’t offer Palestinians sovereignty or citizenship. The two million Palestinians of Gaza are constantly attacked by the world’s 4th largest military superpower the Israeli military. Maori were once colonised by the world first superpower the British empire and unfairly attacked by a land greedy colonial government.

Native Affairs senior reporter Ruwani Perera and cameraman Jacob Bryant, were invited to join the Freedom Flotilla transporting humanitarian aid to Palestine. 100 km in International waters the Armed Israeli  Navy unlawfully boarded the vessel “Marianne” in international water’s detaining the New Zealand citizens and other passengers.  Israel  is set to be deport the Journalists back to New Zealand.

In an interview on Maori television Roger Fowler from Kia Ora Gaza spoke on Maori television condemning the hijacking of New Zealand citizens and the oppression of the Palestinian people. A panel representing political parties spoke about the Israeli colonisation of Palestine. The Greens co-leader Metiria Turei came out strong against Israel’s occupation, condemning their actions against Palestine and New Zealand journalists.

Winston Peters, Naniaia Mahuta and Te Ururoa Flavell sat on the fence suggesting mediocre  and insignificant discussion on peacekeeping between Israel and Palestine. They avoided   condemning the Israeli military that had taken New Zealand citizens hostage.

The minister of foreign affairs Murray McCully has been sent two open letters from the organisation “Kia ora Gaza” requesting he  call on Israel to immediately release the ship and its passengers unharmed.

Mr McCully has hit the Israeli government with a wet bus ticket and avoided making a commotion. A double standard if this was attack bloggers like Cameron Slater or David Farrar being held hostage by Palestinians the condemnation would be a national emergency on the front page of the New Zealand Herald.

The oppressive colonisation of Palestine will continue for as long as the good people of New Zealand vote for passive politicians that lack the courage  to condemn Israel’s brutal colonisation of Palestine.