About 20,000 people marched through New Zealand’s biggest city on Saturday, calling on their government to impose sanctions on Israel.
The protest, titled “March for Humanity,” began at 9:30 a.m. local time in Auckland’s Aotea Square, and made its way through the Central Business District to Victoria Park, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Demonstrators could be seen hoisting Palestinian flags. One man, Innes Fisher, told the Herald, “It’s so good to be around people who have the same point of view ..., being here, you know you are doing something.”
A Jewish woman addressed the marchers, saying: “The Palestinian people have opened me with open arms. … I will walk with you every step of the way toward justice,” the newspaper reported.
A counter-protest led by the Destiny Church movement was diverted by police to Victoria Street, the report noted.
Police said there were no incidents to report, as roads reopened in the city center when the marchers assembled in Victoria Park.
Aotearoa for Palestine spokesperson Arama Rata said it was New Zealand’s largest march in support of Palestinians since the Swords of Iron war in Gaza began, triggered by the Hamas-led invasion of Israel’s northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023, Reuters reported.
Rata said that the organizers intended to close a major city bridge but abandoned this plan due to the strong winds, the report added.
Placards with slogans reading, “Don’t normalize genocide” and, “Grow a spine stand with Palestine” were seen at the rally, public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.
New Zealand Jewish Council spokesman Ben Kepes said that he appreciated the peaceful conduct of the marchers on Saturday, but denounced calls to impose sanctions on the Jewish state, according to Reuters.
“We are concerned sanctions against Israel single Israel out, fail to recognize the attacks on Israel and ignore the plight of the hostages,” he said in a statement.
About 10,000 Jews live in the country.
On Aug. 11, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that his country is considering whether to recognize a Palestinian state.
The Cabinet will decide on the matter ahead of the U.N. Leaders’ Week, he added, per Reuters.
U.N. Leaders’ Week, aka the General Assembly High-level Week, will be held in New York on Sept. 22-30.
On Aug. 13, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who heads a center-right coalition, said that Israeli actions in Gaza are “utterly appalling.”
