Ardern Urges Global Action to Halt ‘Genocide’ in Gaza

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called for immediate action to end what she describes as “genocide” in Gaza. In an opinion piece published by The Guardian, Ardern highlighted the alarming number of casualties, particularly among new mothers and during childbirth. Her comments come amid increasing global concern over the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Calls for Recognition and Support

Ardern stresses that a viable path exists to halt the ongoing violence. She advocates for greater international recognition of Palestinian statehood and an end to any cooperation that facilitates military action against civilians. “There is a path to stopping the genocide still happening daily before us,” she wrote in her article. Her stance aligns with a growing number of international experts and leaders who assert that Israel’s military actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocide under international law.

In contrast, Israel has firmly rejected these allegations. The Israeli government has dismissed a recent United Nations report that claims Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, labeling it as “fake” and based on misinformation from Hamas. This ongoing dispute underscores the complexity of the situation in the region.

Ardern’s piece also addresses the severe impact of the conflict on maternal health. She noted that more than half of all deaths resulting from postpartum hemorrhaging (PPH) occur in countries that are currently appealing for humanitarian aid. “In high-income countries, deaths from PPH have nearly been eliminated. But globally, 70,000 women are still dying every year. That’s one PPH death every 7.5 minutes,” she wrote, highlighting the urgency of addressing maternal health in crisis situations.

Advocating for Change

In her efforts to combat maternal mortality in humanitarian crises, Ardern has collaborated with the International Rescue Committee on a program titled “Safer Births in Crises.” This initiative aims to improve maternal health outcomes in conflict zones and is receiving $4 million in support from the Matariki Fund for Women, which is associated with the University of Otago.

She urged world leaders to “resist the dehumanisation of numbers” and to take decisive action, beginning with Gaza. “Women give birth during war, and they die. But they shouldn’t. Not in the midst of birth, nor in the crossfire of conflict. Sometimes politics and leadership should be as simple as that,” Ardern stated, emphasizing the moral imperative to protect vulnerable populations.

In a related development, UN member states have recently voted to allow the leader of the Palestinian Authority to address the General Assembly, a move that may further influence international discussions surrounding the situation in Gaza.