Protestors swarm central Auckland (+photos)

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GATHERING CROWD: Police watch over protestors in central Auckland.

CLIO FRANCIS/Stuff.co.nz

FACE OFF: Opposing protestors argue in central Auckland.

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UNITED FRONT: Protestors gather in Auckland.

CLIO FRANCIS/Stuff.co.nz

RIGHT TO FIGHT: Whangaparaoa resident Dorothy protests in central Auckland.

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Crowds of protestors swarmed central Auckland today in defiance of Israel's attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

The rally, which attracted around 500 people, began in Aotea Square at noon and ended at the United States consulate in Customs Street.

Auckland police Senior Sergeant Gary Barber said those involved with the protest had been surprisingly well behaved.

"There was a small incident where a protestor ran up to someone holding an Israeli flag and took off with it into the crowd, but that was the worst of it."

There was also a symbolic throwing of shoes at the United States consulate, he said.

Auckland resident Malcom Evans said he was attending the demonstration to express his solidarity with those who found the activities of Israel abhorrent.

"Zionism and apartheid have no difference," he said.

"We need to express our indignation the same way we did when South Africa practised their hateful regime."

Speeches crackled across the loud speakers at Aotea Square, as protest organiser John Minto, Green MP Keith Locke and other members of the Palestinian community addressed the growing crowd.

Monitored by around a dozen police, organisers handed out petition forms and leaflets detailing Israeli products which it encouraged people to boycott. 

Dorothy, a Whangaparoa resident who didn't want her last name published, was one of the first to arrive at the protest.

She stood clasping a large board bearing the pictures of women and children caught in the conflict.

"I'm a grandmother and a mother and the slaughter of innocent woman and children brings me here today. My heart goes out to all of them," she said.

Locke, who spoke in support of Gaza at the rally, said he wished more of his colleagues had turned out to support the demonstration.

"The Green Party thinks it is vitally important that our government takes a much stronger stance on these attacks," he said.

"What Israel has done in Gaza is totally unacceptable."

He said Israel had taken the weak response from other countries around the world as a green light to continue their aggression.

Peter Bolot attended the demonstration in defiance of the protest against Israel.

Mr Bolot said he worked as a dentist in a free clinic in Jerusalem, and treated both Arabs and Jews.

He was disdainful of today’s rally, saying it a gathering of uniformed people, fuelled by inaccurate and one-sided reports of the conflict in the New Zealand media.

He said Hamas should stop hiding behind innocents.

"What I have a problem with is this one sided attack from people who hide behind woman and children."

- © Fairfax NZ News