Protesters have rallied in support of Palestinians in their thousands, across the country this afternoon, calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Rallies were held in major centres including large demonstrations in Auckland and Wellington, where protesters marched to Parliament from Civic Square.
People held Palestinian flags and yelled chants demanding a ceasefire.
Smaller rallies were also held in other centres, including in Hamilton and Nelson.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa chairperson John Minto said the rallies were part of "a rapidly growing global movement calling for a ceasefire".
"It’s clear the government is out of step with New Zealanders who overwhelmingly support an immediate ceasefire," he said yesterday in a media release.
READ MORE: Thousands march in pro-Palestinian rallies across NZ
It comes as the UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution calling for a "humanitarian truce" in Gaza leading to a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, the first United Nations response to the ongoing war.
The 193-member world body adopted the Arab-drafted resolution by a vote of 120-14 with 45 abstentions after rejecting a Canadian amendment backed by the United States.
New Zealand voted in support of the resolution. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for all parties to the conflict to commit to a "humanitarian pause".
"Humanitarian corridors must be established in order for sufficient aid to regularly flow into Gaza, and safe areas must be put in place that are free from military targeting to provide a refuge for innocent civilians who have nowhere to go."
Israel's military said overnight its forces were "expanding their activity" in the Gaza Strip, as the army moved closer to a full-on ground invasion of the besieged territory.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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