Letter to Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations

Here is a letter that I just sent to New Zealand's representative to the UN.
If you're concerned about events in Gaza, you may want to send a similar letter to your UN representative.

I'll let you know if I receive any replies.
As always, please feel free to leave a comment.

To: H.E Rosemary Banks - Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations
nzmissionny@earthlink.net

Your Excellency,

I read with dismay that the Jabalya School, run and funded by UNRWA, was used by terrorists to fire mortar shells against Israel and was being used as a refuge for Hamas operatives.

This use of a school as a military base is directly responsible for the deaths of civilians who were taking refuge (or being held hostage) together with armed militants in the school.

This is not the first time that United Nations facilities have been used by combatants to launch attacks against Israel, which is not only in breach of International law but puts the lives of innocent civilians at risk.

As a New Zealand citizen living in Israel, I hope that the New Zealand government has taken an active stand against this mis-use of United Nations infrastructure by Hamas terrorists , especially as the New Zealand Government has made regular donations to UNRWA.

Has the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the UN raised this issue with UNRWA or other UN bodies to ensure that in the future UN facilities do not serve as a safe haven for armed combatants ?

Yours sincerely,


Michael Sedley
Modi'in, Israel


CC:
Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand
j.key@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs
m.mccully@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Wayne Mapp, Minister of Defence
w.mapp@ministers.govt.nz

Rt Hon Helen Clark, Opposition Spokesperson, Foreign Affairs
helen.clark@parliament.govt.nz