Probe sought into New Zealand’s role in Israeli war on Gaza

ISTANBUL (AA) – New Zealand’s spy chief said Thursday he was “considering” a request to probe the country’s possible role in Israeli war on Gaza which has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians since last October, public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.

The confirmation by Brendan Horsley, who is inspector-general of intelligence and security (IGIS), comes after a group of academics and lawyers wrote a 38-page document, alongside a letter, warning the country might be “aiding international crimes.”

“We believe there is a plausible case that the intelligence-sharing actions of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in relation to what has occurred in Gaza breach New Zealand law as well as standards of propriety,” wrote Treasa Dunworth, lawyers Vinod Bal and Max Harris.

Dunworth is associate professor at the University of Auckland.

An inquiry was “not only desirable, but necessary,” the letter said.

Call for probe into New Zealand’s possible role in the Israeli war on the besieged Palestinian enclave comes amid global condemnation of the arms and intelligence supplies, especially by the US, to Tel Aviv.

New Zealand is part of the intelligence gathering alliance called Five Eyes with the US, Australia, Canada and the UK being the other members.

“If the New Zealand intelligence and security agencies have produced intelligence relevant to the conflict, it is plausible to suggest that this intelligence has made its way to Israeli agencies through the United States,” the letter pointed out.

New Zealand has also witnessed demonstrations in solidarity with the global Free Palestine movement.

“Even if intelligence is not being gathered and shared with Israel, an inquiry may lift public confidence in the GCSB and NZSIS,” said the lawyers.