04:00Dozens were seen participating in heated pro-Palestine and pro-Israel counter-rallies in Auckland on Monday, marking the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
Footage shows police officers monitoring the demonstrations and keeping the two groups divided. Meanwhile, protesters from both sides can be seen chanting, waving flags and yelling at each other.
Pro-Palestine protesters condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and accused the state of committing 'genocide' against the Palestinian people - a claim that Israel has repeatedly denied.
"I'll be standing here with the Palestinian community because I've been standing with them for the last year. And obviously, we know that in Palestine at the moment there is a genocide going on," said Zain, one of the demonstrators.
"The actual intentions of Israel, with the American backing, is so clear to so many people. And really it's small acts, as Howard Zinn said - small acts multiplied by millions - is the very thing that governments fear," added another protester, Jain.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel protesters called for the return of all Hamas-held hostages and denounced the Palestinian militant group. One demonstrator, Brian, blamed Hamas for the civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.
"If there have been people who have been caught up in the firing line in Gaza, it's because Hamas has put rockets firing depots in civilian areas. So, when Israel sends rockets across, people are being used as victims by Hamas, by the Gazan citizens," he stated.
Another protester, Daniel, said that rallying on the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack is important to show victims that 'the world cared'.
"We're out here and we're showing that we care. We as a people here, Tu Tangata, and the people of New Zealand, the real people of New Zealand, we care," he said.
Similar protests have erupted in countries such as Germany, France, Chile, Spain, Morocco, Australia, Mexico, Italy, and the US as Monday marks the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched an unprecedented assault on southern Israel. Israel reported that 1,139 people were killed, mostly civilians and that Hamas fighters had seized at least 251 hostages before returning to Gaza.
In response, Israel initiated an air campaign and a ground offensive into Gaza, where Palestinian authorities claim over 40,000 people have since been killed, although the death toll is thought to be higher.
Israel has strongly denied allegations of 'genocide', also made by a number of countries at the International Criminal Court, and says its actions in Gaza are in self-defence and against Hamas operatives and infrastructure.
A number of hostage-prisoner swaps have taken place, although talks to agree a permanent ceasefire have stalled. The conflict recently spread to Lebanon, where Israel launched a 'limited' ground incursion against militant group Hezbollah following a campaign of airstrikes. The sides have conducted cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Auckland police intervene as tensions rise between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine counter-rallies during Oct 7 attack anniversary
Dozens were seen participating in heated pro-Palestine and pro-Israel counter-rallies in Auckland on Monday, marking the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
Footage shows police officers monitoring the demonstrations and keeping the two groups divided. Meanwhile, protesters from both sides can be seen chanting, waving flags and yelling at each other.
Pro-Palestine protesters condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and accused the state of committing 'genocide' against the Palestinian people - a claim that Israel has repeatedly denied.
"I'll be standing here with the Palestinian community because I've been standing with them for the last year. And obviously, we know that in Palestine at the moment there is a genocide going on," said Zain, one of the demonstrators.
"The actual intentions of Israel, with the American backing, is so clear to so many people. And really it's small acts, as Howard Zinn said - small acts multiplied by millions - is the very thing that governments fear," added another protester, Jain.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel protesters called for the return of all Hamas-held hostages and denounced the Palestinian militant group. One demonstrator, Brian, blamed Hamas for the civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.
"If there have been people who have been caught up in the firing line in Gaza, it's because Hamas has put rockets firing depots in civilian areas. So, when Israel sends rockets across, people are being used as victims by Hamas, by the Gazan citizens," he stated.
Another protester, Daniel, said that rallying on the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack is important to show victims that 'the world cared'.
"We're out here and we're showing that we care. We as a people here, Tu Tangata, and the people of New Zealand, the real people of New Zealand, we care," he said.
Similar protests have erupted in countries such as Germany, France, Chile, Spain, Morocco, Australia, Mexico, Italy, and the US as Monday marks the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched an unprecedented assault on southern Israel. Israel reported that 1,139 people were killed, mostly civilians and that Hamas fighters had seized at least 251 hostages before returning to Gaza.
In response, Israel initiated an air campaign and a ground offensive into Gaza, where Palestinian authorities claim over 40,000 people have since been killed, although the death toll is thought to be higher.
Israel has strongly denied allegations of 'genocide', also made by a number of countries at the International Criminal Court, and says its actions in Gaza are in self-defence and against Hamas operatives and infrastructure.
A number of hostage-prisoner swaps have taken place, although talks to agree a permanent ceasefire have stalled. The conflict recently spread to Lebanon, where Israel launched a 'limited' ground incursion against militant group Hezbollah following a campaign of airstrikes. The sides have conducted cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Dozens were seen participating in heated pro-Palestine and pro-Israel counter-rallies in Auckland on Monday, marking the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
Footage shows police officers monitoring the demonstrations and keeping the two groups divided. Meanwhile, protesters from both sides can be seen chanting, waving flags and yelling at each other.
Pro-Palestine protesters condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and accused the state of committing 'genocide' against the Palestinian people - a claim that Israel has repeatedly denied.
"I'll be standing here with the Palestinian community because I've been standing with them for the last year. And obviously, we know that in Palestine at the moment there is a genocide going on," said Zain, one of the demonstrators.
"The actual intentions of Israel, with the American backing, is so clear to so many people. And really it's small acts, as Howard Zinn said - small acts multiplied by millions - is the very thing that governments fear," added another protester, Jain.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel protesters called for the return of all Hamas-held hostages and denounced the Palestinian militant group. One demonstrator, Brian, blamed Hamas for the civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.
"If there have been people who have been caught up in the firing line in Gaza, it's because Hamas has put rockets firing depots in civilian areas. So, when Israel sends rockets across, people are being used as victims by Hamas, by the Gazan citizens," he stated.
Another protester, Daniel, said that rallying on the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack is important to show victims that 'the world cared'.
"We're out here and we're showing that we care. We as a people here, Tu Tangata, and the people of New Zealand, the real people of New Zealand, we care," he said.
Similar protests have erupted in countries such as Germany, France, Chile, Spain, Morocco, Australia, Mexico, Italy, and the US as Monday marks the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched an unprecedented assault on southern Israel. Israel reported that 1,139 people were killed, mostly civilians and that Hamas fighters had seized at least 251 hostages before returning to Gaza.
In response, Israel initiated an air campaign and a ground offensive into Gaza, where Palestinian authorities claim over 40,000 people have since been killed, although the death toll is thought to be higher.
Israel has strongly denied allegations of 'genocide', also made by a number of countries at the International Criminal Court, and says its actions in Gaza are in self-defence and against Hamas operatives and infrastructure.
A number of hostage-prisoner swaps have taken place, although talks to agree a permanent ceasefire have stalled. The conflict recently spread to Lebanon, where Israel launched a 'limited' ground incursion against militant group Hezbollah following a campaign of airstrikes. The sides have conducted cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the Gaza war.