Thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, on Saturday, in what organizers said was the largest rally of its kind since the war in Gaza began between Israel and Hamas.
Some 50,000 attended the March for Humanity rally in central Auckland on Saturday morning, the Aotearoa for Palestine group said. New Zealand police estimated the attendance at 20,000, Reuters reported.
Aotearoa for Palestine spokesperson Arama Rata said it was New Zealand's largest march in support of Palestinians since conflict broke out in Gaza in October 2023.
Many in Saturday's protest crowd carried Palestinian flags and banners with slogans including "Don't normalize genocide" and "Grow a spine stand with Palestine", public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.
Organizers, motivated by a march that shut down Sydney's iconic Harbor Bridge in August, wanted to close a major city bridge with Saturday's rally, Rata said, but were forced to abandon those plans on Friday due to strong winds.
Police said there were no arrests at the march and that roads along the route were being reopened.
Aotearoa for Palestine said it wanted New Zealand's center-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 recognize a Palestinian state.
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 Saturday's march but condemned calls to sanction Israel.
"We are concerned sanctions against Israel singles Israel out, fails to recognize the attacks on Israel and ignores the plight of the hostages," Kepes said in a statement.
