Video: Pro-Palestinian protestors rally in Hawke's Bay
Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered in Hastings, joining others around the country, to demand an end to "Israeli forces’ bombardment of Gaza".
A surprise terror attack on October 7 by Hamas on Israeli towns spurred Israel to declare war on Hamas and begin a series of airstrikes on targets across Gaza, Syria and the West Bank.
People gathered with signs and Palestinian flags at the Hastings Clock Tower this afternoon. Speakers from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa - Hawke's Bay, E tū Union, Green Party and the Hastings mosque spoke.
Warren Brewer, one of the organisers, said his group had been protesting what he calls an "Israeli occupation of Gaza" once a month in Flaxmere, Hastings and Napier for about five years.
Since October they have been protesting weekly.
"Ordinarily, we are at intersections with flags and banners but we have been asked to call a big one today, nationally that is happening all around the country, so we thought well we'll see if we can make that happen."
"We are out here saying stop, no more."
Napier City Councillor Maxine Boag spoke to the crowd and said they need to "stand up together to demand our leaders do all they can to push for an immediate ceasefire".
"Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. Nowhere is safe in Gaza.
"All of us must demand a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the carnage and stop the war from continuing and spreading to other countries. This can only be done by diplomacy, not brutality."
However, the rally "disappointed" Pastor Nigel Woodley, of Flaxmere Christian Fellowship, who has held two public gatherings in support of Israel within three weeks.
"What I don't like about this is it empowers Hamas. They see this as support for them," Woodley told Hawke's Bay App.
"And they talk about free Gaza. The Gazan people need to be freed from Hamas, not the Israelis. The Israelis are a peace-loving people who want to install a peaceable government that would do good for the people.
"Hamas are the real perpetrators behind the whole thing that has happened. The way they conducted themselves on the 7th of October is disgraceful, barbaric and inhumane and I don't know how any group can come out after that in support of the Hamas government."
Last Sunday, they had a crowd of about 200 gather at the Hastings Town Clock to call for the "deliverance of the 230 hostages in Hamas captivity". Their previous rally on October 10 was a candlelight vigil to stand with Israel "after the horrors of October 7".