Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian march in New Zealand’s biggest city
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Some 50,000 attended the March for Humanity rally in central Auckland on the morning of Sept 13.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM GASANTWITER/X
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AUCKLAND – Thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, on Sept 13, in what organisers said was the largest rally of its kind since the war in Gaza began between Israel and militant Islamist Palestinian group Hamas.
Some 50,000 attended the March for Humanity rally in central Auckland on the morning of Sept 13, the Aotearoa for Palestine group said. New Zealand police estimated the attendance at 20,000.
Aotearoa for Palestine spokeswoman Arama Rata said it was New Zealand’s largest march in support of Palestinians since conflict broke out in Gaza, when Israel started an offensive in retaliation for a Hamas-led cross-border attack
The Palestinian authorities have said that more than 64,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Gaza, while humanitarian organisations say a shortage of food is leading to widespread starvation
Many in the protest crowd on Sept 13 carried Palestinian flags and banners with slogans including “Don’t normalise genocide” and “Grow a spine stand with Palestine”, public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.
Organisers, motivated by a march that shut down Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge in August
Police said there were no arrests at the march and that roads along the route were being re-opened.
Aotearoa for Palestine said it wanted New Zealand’s centre-right coalition government to impose sanctions on Israel.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in August described recent Israeli actions in Gaza, including a lack of humanitarian assistance, as “utterly appalling”, and New Zealand has been weighing up whether to recognise a Palestinian state
Mr Ben Kepes, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council, a body representing around 10,000 Jews who live in the country, said he appreciated the peaceful nature of the march on Sept 13 but condemned calls to sanction Israel.
“We are concerned sanctions against Israel singles Israel out, fails to recognise the attacks on Israel and ignores the plight of the hostages,” he said in a statement. REUTERS
