Pro-Israel demonstrators performed a haka in the middle of a Gaza ceasefire protest in Christchurch today, as the two sides clashed over the ongoing conflict.
The two groups of protesters – one supporting Israel, the other supporting Palestinians – held simultaneous events at the same place by the Bridge of Remembrance.
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has been protesting in the area for weeks, with around 250 marchers joining each Saturday.
However, this afternoon they were met by a group from the Freedoms and Rights Coalition waving Israeli flags.
The demonstrators – who are connected to Destiny Church – soon erupted into a haka, standing face to face with protesters on the other side in a heated standoff.
Both groups attempted to drown each other out, with a speaker from the Freedoms and Rights Coalition chanting “go back to Gaza” over a microphone. Pro-Palestinian supporters responded by blocking the view with banners and crying “shame on them”.
Protesters on both sides of the issue faced off against each other. (Source: 1News)
Both sides expressed grief – and fury – at the presence of the other.
Palestine Solidarity Network protester Roy Foley said he was protesting because the killing was the worst he’d ever seen in his lifetime.
“I think it's time that people around the world, it's the time for our Government to actually make a stand for human rights, and stand against genocide,” he said.
Pro-Israeli demonstrator Sarah Daly said she was there to represent Israeli hostages held by the military wing of Hamas in Gaza.
“They need to be released, that's why we're standing, for the hostages,” she said.
“We want them, we want these people to return to their families.”
The Palestinian protesters then left for their usual march to Cathedral Square, where they marked the killing of thousands of children in Gaza with a speech from a young boy.
With no one left to shout at, the Pro-Israeli demonstrators left the Bridge of Remembrance soon afterwards.
Neither side was able to listen to the other, as a fury that has enveloped the world spills over into the streets of New Zealand.
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