The families of three New Zealanders detained as part of the protest flotilla to Gaza have spoken about their admiration - and their deep worry - for them.
Youssef Sammour, Rana Hamida and Samuel Leason were detained last week when then Israeli defence force boarded their boat.
Their families spoke to media on Monday, calling on the government to help them and their cause.
Youssef's sister Samar Sammour said her brother was a civil engineer who grew up in New Zealand in a Christian-Palestinian family.
He was not a politician, nor was he seeking attention, but he was a deeply compassionate person who had always believed that love and courage could make great change in the world, she said.
"Youssef sailed directly into danger, risking his very life with nothing but compassion and humanitarian aid on board. Not because he wanted to, but because our governments have failed to act," she said.
Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Samuel Leason. Photo: Screenshot
Like the other families, she was emotional when speaking and asked the government to advocate for the New Zealanders' release and also to sanction Israel.
"Youssef if you somehow see this, we miss you, we surround you with all our love, please come back safe to us," she said.
Heba Hamida said detainee Rana Hamida was more than her sister, she was a great friend and an aunty to her children.
She had always been very kind and would not even kill bugs.
She could not ignore the suffering she had seen in Gaza, and by acting she was doing what the New Zealand government had failed to, Hamida said.
Samuel Leason's father Adrian said he was worried about his son's safety but also that he would heartbroken not to have reached Gaza to be able to deliver the supplies on board.
In their last communication before his boat was boarded, Samuel asked his father to keep the attention on Hamida and Sammour because he believed the fact they were of Palestinian descent put them at greater risk in jail, he said.
'They were doing their bit to try and stop a genocide'
Meanwhile, the Green Party has called on the government to ensure the safe return of [three New Zealanders aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla] and to sanction Israel.
On Sunday, the Global Movement to Gaza said the two Palestinian-New Zealanders Hamida and Sammour were now on a hunger strike.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) confirmed a consular partner met with the detained trio in Tel Aviv.
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick urged Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to intervene and ensure their safe return.
"They were doing their bit to try and stop a genocide. They are trying to build a world where our humanity actually means something," she said.
"I want to spell this out as clearly as possible - Israel has illegally abducted civilians who were trying to food and supplies to civilians being illegally starved and murdered, under illegal blockade.
"I emphasise this point of illegality because Luxon's government says they want to be tough on crime."
Rana, Youssef and Samuel were operating entirely legally - Israel was not, Swarbrick said.
She said the government had a legal obligation to "prevent genocide" and it was currently "washing its hands of that obligation".
The Green Party spoke to media on Monday alongside family members of the three detained Kiwis.
Swarbrick said the families demanded a plan to safely return the trio, for the government to "explicitly condemn the illegal interception" and to "sanction Israel for its war crimes."
"Luxon, Seymour and Peters are proving they would not have been the leaders of this country who chose to stand against apartheid South Africa," she said.
"They would not have stood against the French and the United States when it came to nuclear-free Pacific."
Family members of New Zealanders aboard the flotilla speak at a Green Party stand-up. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Swarbrick said this was an opportunity to correct that and do the right thing.
If they do not, their backbenchers have the power to, she said.
"All 68 government MPs are personally, individually responsible for whether the bill to sanction Israel progresses or does not.
"We need just six of 68 government MPs to sign their support, and we get that bill onto the floor of the House."
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