Al Quds Day Tāmaki Makaurau

This years Al Quds Day event which holds that Al Quds, also known as Jerusalem, is the capital of Palestine, was attended by supporters of Palestine in Tāmaki Makaurau on the last Friday of Ramadan in 2024.

Speakers and community shared and demonstrated their support for Palestine from a wide range of the Muslim and Palestine solidarity community. Roger Fowler from Kia Ora Gaza highlighted the Freedom Floatilla mission which will take three volunteer NZ doctors from Imamia Medics International, and ship-loads of aid, and is set to arrive in Gaza in the next few weeks.

The day was first conceived by the Iranian regime 45 years ago in solidarity with Palestinians, and is seen by critics as a way to legitimize the regime in the Muslim world. In Tāmaki Makaurau organisers have held the annual day of remembrance in Aotea Square for 20 years.

From the Palestinian solidarity callender by the Global Campaign To Return To Palestine.

Al-Quds, a Stolen City and Civilisation

For centuries, the city of Al-Quds remained a hold Christian Islamic city, with a Jewish minority living in complete harmony, in contrast to the European persecution of Jews.

Today, the Zionist entity is trying through illegal means, to Judaize the city and to destroy the civilisational and cultural monuments that are linked to the original identity of the city, to give it a racist Zionist character. Therefore, it is taking steps that violate international laws, such as:

1. Confiscation of public lands, property of displaced Palestinians, and sources of natural resources.
2. Building illegal settlements in and around the Holy City, to change the demographic nature and isolate it from its Palestinain surroundings.
3. Demolishing Palestinian homes and real estate and displacing their residents, such as the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods.
4. The ongoing incurson on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the restriction of religious freedom for Muslims and Christians.
5. Arbitrary detention of people of Al-Quds, and restrictions on freedom of movement, media and culture.
6. Illegal excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque and changing the features of historical places, including cemetaries.
7. Obstructing the work of Palestinian education and health institutions, spreading unemployment and drugs and imposing heavy taxes on the Palestinians.”  – Global Campaign To Return To Palestine.