Latest news with #Nazzal
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
PSNA To Target Sodastream In Noel Leeming Outlets For ‘Complicity With Israeli Genocide, Apartheid And Land Grabbing'
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is launching a nationwide campaign against stockists of carbonated drink machines produced by the Israeli company Sodastream. PSNA says its action is part of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to isolate apartheid Israel while it commits genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal won't reveal when the 'active campaign' might start, but he does say that the Noel Leeming retail chain is to be the first target. 'We wrote to Noel Leeming's parent company, the Warehouse, on 25 March, reminding them of their Ethical Sourcing Policy, which states; 'Like our customers,wecare about doing the right thing – not only here in New Zealand but everywhere we operate. Our aim is to ensure our customers have confidencethatour products have been ethically sourced.' 'We didn't get a reply. It seems their ethical policy is just a public relations whitewash.' Nazzal says Sodastream previously manufactured its machines near Ma'ale Adumim, one of the most notorious illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank, which was built over destroyed Palestinian villages. 'Sodastream denied it at the time, but the pressure from international customers forced Sodastream to relocate its factory to near Rahat in the Nagab desert in Southern Israel.' Nazzal says the Sodastream stain remains. 'Sodastream built its new factory on traditional Bedouin land. In 1948, the Israeli army expelled most of the nomadic Bedouin from Palestine. Ever since then, Israel has attempted to drive the remaining Bedouin into Bantustan shanty towns so Israelis can occupy the rest of their land.' 'Some Bedouin have had their villages destroyed by the Israeli army dozens of times.' 'The Israeli government subsidises industrial plants and towns in the Nagab, to 'improve the demographic balance' in favour of Jewish immigrants. It's just the same apartheid as in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,' Nazzal says. 'Israeli companies can exploit local Palestinian labour, just as easily as they can if they were operating in the West Bank.' 'Sodastream boasts that it is also exploiting local prison labour. I think that is a great thing to publicise.' Nazzal says the PSNA action against SodaStream shouldn't be necessary. 'Our government should be sanctioning Israel for its genocide and apartheid. It has obligations set by the International Court of Justice, which it completely ignores.' Nazzal says civic boycotts work. 'The best example in this country was the campaign against apartheid South Africa, especially against the Springbok Tour in 1981.' 'Much more recently, only last year, the Israeli parent company of Obela food dips sold its brand. It reluctantly admitted that part of the reason was the consumer boycott of Obella as an Israeli product.' 'Though Obela sales in countries such as Aotearoa New Zealand didn't fall that much, it was enough to cause an Israeli identity brand crisis. Obela is still on sale here, but is no longer an Israeli company and isn't sending profits back to Israel anymore.' Nazzal says the initial target is Noel Leeming, but the campaign will also be moving to other retail chains which stock Sodastream, such as Briscoes and New World. 'We hope they will see ethical reason and realise why it's not in the long-term interests of their respective brands to continue to stock Sodastream."
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
PSNA Refers Aotearoa New Zealand Government Ministers And Business Leaders The International Criminal Court
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has just filed a referral to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. It accuses four New Zealand government ministers and two business leaders of criminal complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by assisting Israel's mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chairs, John Minto and Maher Nazzal say the referral carefully outlines a case that these six individuals should be investigated by the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC for the contributions they have knowingly made to Israel's crimes in Gaza. 'The 103-page referral document was prepared by a legal team which has been working on the case for many months. It is legally robust and will provide the Prosecutor of the ICC more than sufficient documentation to begin their investigation.' 'This is a grave step which we have not taken lightly' Minto and Nazzal says. 'But the government's ongoing and meaningful support for Israel, despite its horrendous war crimes, is not only egregious to most New Zealanders, but is also criminal conduct under international law.' Minto and Nazzal say the referral follows a 'letter of demand' issued to the government in 2024 outlining the actions that a reasonable government would take to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, and the actions the government should take to avoid criminal complicity with Israel. 'For 20 months these political and business leaders have supported Israel to commit crimes which have shocked the human conscience.' 'This has brought shame on the whole country.' 'Even today, Palestinians – mostly women and children, are being killed, and the key individuals who have helped to make this nightmare possible must themselves be held to account.' 'We believe this is the first time New Zealand political and business leaders have been referred to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We hope it is the last.' *Two points of explanation: Genocide: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, top international genocide scholars and the United Nations Special Committee to investigate Israel's practices have all condemned Israel's actions as genocide. Individual criminal responsibility: Under the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court these six people are individually criminally responsible for their actions and inactions irrespective of their positions as elected politicians or appointed business leaders.
LeMonde
01-07-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
Israel limits entry of baby formula in Gaza as infants die of hunger
At the end of June, an American doctor was preparing to travel to Gaza for a medical mission. His suitcases were filled with cans of baby formula, gauze, bandages and sanitary pads. He believed he was doing the right thing: The Palestinian population of the enclave, bombarded and starved by the Israeli army, lacks everything. While in Amman, a mandatory gathering point for foreign medical missions heading to Gaza, the coordinator of the convoy, Palestinian-German ophthalmic surgeon Diana Nazzal urged him to lighten his load. "If you only have medical supplies and no personal belongings, you risk being turned away, or even jeopardizing the whole mission," she explained. The American doctor followed her instructions, reducing the baby formula in his luggage to three cans. Once at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, however, his personal belongings were searched by Israeli security guards manning the terminal on the Palestinian side. "The baby formula was confiscated," said Nazzal. "What other explanation is there, if it's not that hunger is being used as a weapon of war in the ongoing genocide in Gaza?" Local health workers said baby formula is desperately lacking in the enclave, especially specialized formula for premature babies or lactose-free formula for babies with intolerances. Many mothers, suffering from malnutrition, are unable to breastfeed.
Al Etihad
03-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Emirates Stallions Group launches boutique real estate developer
3 June 2025 11:33 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Emirates Stallions Group, a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), has announced the launch of Royal Development Holding, a boutique real estate developer created by consolidating its existing real estate subsidiaries into a single branded move marks a strategic shift in ESG's property development newly launched entity brings together specialised subsidiaries such as Royal Development Company (RDC) and Royal Architect Project Management (RAPM). It also sets the stage for introducing new entities to further enhance ESG's capabilities across the real estate value chain.'With Royal Development Holding, we are evolving the Royal Development name and scope of work,' said Kayed Ali Khorma, CEO of ESG. 'It will build lifestyle-driven communities to nurture growth, transform the everyday experience, and shape the future of living.'RDC, the flagship subsidiary, brings to the new holding company a 15-year legacy of excellence, having managed over 60 landmark projects in more than 15 countries. This consolidation will allow ESG to offer end-to-end real estate solutions, enabling it to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving Nazzal, General Manager of Royal Development Holding, commented: 'By listing several of the Group's real estate development and project management companies under Royal Development Holding, we are aligning with our vision of continuous growth and transformation. Innovation, sustainability, and creative design are at the heart of our future projects.'Royal Development Holding aims to position itself as a forward-thinking player in the boutique development space. As of March 21, 2025, ESG reported total assets of Dh3.68 billion, reinforcing its robust foundation for expansion both within the UAE and globally. It is a listed company at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, with a market cap of Dh2.75 billion. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
More Government Double Standards On Palestine And It Greenlights Escalating Genocide
More Government Double Standards on Palestine and it Greenlights Escalating Genocide The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is accusing Foreign Minister, Winston Peters of blatant double standards and giving it the green-light for its escalating attacks on Gaza. PSNA Co-Chair, Maher Nazzal says Peters publicly deplored the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington last week, yet he kept silent on the killing of nine Palestinian children of the Al Najjar family in Khan Younis in a single Israeli airstrike just two days later. Late last week, Peters expressed his sympathy to the Israeli government, tweeting on behalf of the New Zealand government 'Our thoughts are with their loved ones'. Nazzal says months go by in Gaza without a word of objection from Peters that Israel is still starving the whole population in Gaza and carpet bombing them. 'Just over a week ago, top genocide scholars from around the world were unanimous in assessing Israel's actions amount to genocide.' 'Mr Peters' sympathies are, at least, consistent. He has sided with Israel from day one to the present.' 'I suspect Peters is letting his prejudices run amok as his term in office runs out,' Nazzal says.'Surely many, if not most, government MPs will be sickened by his sympathy towards representatives of the Israeli government, and mostly silence on the deaths of innocent Palestinians.' Nazzal says PSNA reiterates its call for New Zealand to impose wide-ranging and immediate sanctions on Israel. 'Israel has been happy to ignore the half-heated and pro-forma posturing by western governments over the past 19 months. Tel Aviv will interpret Peters' tweet as a subtle but clear diplomatic signal that its ok by Winston Peters that it can escalate its carnage in Gaza.'
