NZFOI media release…
Today (May 15) the NZ Herald published an unconfirmed report that up to 52 people have been killed by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as the crowd numbering several tens of thousands, stormed the border dividing the two territories.
NZ Friends of Israel is deeply saddened by the deaths of protestors, the pain it must cause their families and friends, and the waste of life this represents.
NZ Friends of Israel Association Inc calls upon Hamas to stop urging their supporters to tear down the security fence. By doing so it is irresponsibly putting its people in harm’s way.
The security fence separates two societies that have a history characterised by acts of deadly violence towards one another. Urging its tens of thousands of supporters to storm the security fence could only lead to a deadly result.
There have been reports that the protests are a direct result of the harsh conditions brought about by the Gaza Blockade currently maintained by Israel and Egypt.
This blockade was caused by the election of Hamas, an organisation that has publicly stated that the destruction of the State of Israel is its principal goal. Hamas has also aligned itself with insurgents within Egypt, causing that country to join the blockade.
The preservation of life must take precedence therefore we urge Hamas to act quickly and withdraw its protestors from the immediate area of the border fence.
*NZ Friends of Israel is a charity that fights racism and intolerance through raising awareness of Jewish history and culture.
