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

ISTANBUL

New Zealand’s spy chief on Thursday confirmed 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 academic and lawyers wrote a 38-page document, alongside a request letter, warning the country might be “aiding international crimes.”

It would be a first such probe if Horsley goes ahead with the request.

“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 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 of Five Eyes with the US. Australia, Canada, the UK are other three 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 pro-Palestine demonstrations with a call for cease-fire, as the Israeli war on Gaza completes one-year next month.

“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.