The big picture:
The demonstrations in New Zealand are part of a broader wave of opposition to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza that erupted worldwide after October 7.
University campuses across the U.S., Europe, and Asia have become focal points of pro-Palestine activism, with students staging sit-ins, encampments, and demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel.
Beyond academia, labor unions, cultural institutions, and grassroots groups have joined the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, intensifying pressure on governments and corporations.
What they're saying:
Neil Scott, secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), criticized the government for having 'done nothing,' highlighting 35 protests across the country this weekend and more than 4,000 rallies since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023.
Amnesty International Secretary-General, Agnès Callamard, accused New Zealand of remaining silent on Gaza, describing the government’s foreign policy as having a 'Trumpian accent.'"
"Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford told the rally that the government was 'going backwards' from its tradition of independent foreign policy and described it as 'riddled with Zionists.'
Zoom out:
After the rally, demonstrators marched to a local McDonald’s franchise, citing the company’s support for the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) through the provision of free meals, which has sparked global boycott campaigns.
Go deeper:
Tens of Thousands Join Pro-Palestinian March in New Zealand's Biggest City
Hossein Amiri - Mojtaba Darabi
