The immigration minister is being accused of double standards as families of those stuck in Gaza plead for the government to issue special visas so their loved ones can escape the warzone.
Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab – a Palestinian from the New Zealand Arab Association – was asking for New Zealand to create special humanitarian visas for NZ-Palestinians and their families, and consular support from NZ diplomats for those trying to cross the border.
Currently, it’s almost impossible for Palestinians to get out of the Gaza Strip.
“At the Rafah crossing, even if they’ve paid their visa, and even if they’ve paid their crossing fee, Israel is stopping them from coming through,” Mitchell-Kouttab said of the current situation.
Mitchell-Kouttab called out Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, accusing her of double standards by not issuing special visas to those with family in New Zealand.
She said Stanford reacted differently when Ukraine was invaded in early 2022.
“We are aware that Erica Stanford, in opposition, was criticising the [Labour-led] government after 14 days for not allowing these visas.
“Well, it’s been 150 days. Bombs are not just falling on Palestinians, but they are dying of starvation and dehydration.”
She asked the minister: “What is she waiting for? And why are there these double standards?”
Mitchell-Kouttab said around 40 families in New Zealand are seeking to have 400 family members evacuated from the warzone.
“It is not a huge number, and considering the crisis at this point, why is she not enabling people, who will inevitably die, to leave?”
She said other countries have been evacuating families since the start of the war – so the move wouldn’t be unprecedented.
“I know of a family – within three days of the war, the Japanese government got them out pretty quickly.”
She’s calling on the Government to take a “humanitarian and “understanding” approach.
“At the moment, it does not look good for the government in regard to saying one thing a few years ago and then doing something completely different.
In a statement, Stanford said a special visa is “not something that we’re ruling out” and that she will “consider it”.
The Government's current focus was humanitarian support.
“We are monitoring the situation. I am receiving regular updates and have been advised that Immigration New Zealand can implement a special visa quickly if and when required.”
She said that in the meantime, Kiwis with family in Gaza can apply for a visitor visa for them.
“Immigration New Zealand is prioritising requests for Palestinians.”
This month, the US began airdrops and announced it would establish a temporary pier to deliver badly needed aid to Gaza by sea.
UN officials have warned at least one-quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people are one step away from famine.
The extraordinary measures to get aid into Gaza have come as Israel has resisted US calls to allow more in via land routes.
Israel declared war on October 7 after Hamas militants killed about 1200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 hostages.
Israel's air and ground offensive has devastated large parts of Gaza and displaced about 80% of the population of 2.3 million.
At the end of February, Gaza’s health ministry estimated 30,000 Palestinians had been killed – mostly women and children.
SHARE ME