Palestine solidarity rally greeted by Rainbow Warrior Gaza protest
David Robie also blogs on Café Pacific
From our Asia Pacific Report
Palestinian supporters and protesters against the 21 months of Israeli genocide in Gaza marched after a rally in downtown Auckland on Saturday across the Viaduct to the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior — and met a display of shipboard solidarity.
Several people on board the campaign ship, which has been holding open days over last weekend and this weekend, held up Palestinian flags and displayed a large banner declaring “Sanction Israel — Stop the genocide”.
About 300 people were in the vibrant rally and Greenpeace Aotearoa oceans campaigner Juan Parada came out on Halsey Wharf to speak to the protesters in solidarity over Gaza.
- READ MORE: At least 70 killed as Israel targets food aid sites in Gaza again
- Other Rainbow Warrior protest reports, videos
- Other Israeli war on Gaza reports
“Greenpeace stands for peace and justice, and environmental justice, not only for the environmental damage, but for the lives of the people,” said Parada, a former media practitioner.
Global environmental campaigners have stepped up their condemnation of the devastation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the protests over the genocide, which has so far killed more than 59,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Department, although some researchers say the actual death toll is far higher.
Gaza war emissions condemned
New research recently revealed that the carbon footprint of the first 15 months of Israel’s war on Gaza would be greater than the annual planet-warming emissions of 100 individual countries, worsening the global climate emergency on top of the huge civilian death toll.
The report cited by The Guardian indicated that Israel’s relentless bombardment, blockade and refusal to comply with international court rulings had “underscored the asymmetry of each side’s war machine, as well as almost unconditional military, energy and diplomatic support Israel enjoys from allies, including the US and UK”.
The Israeli war machine has been primarily blamed.
The report, titled “War on the Climate: A Multitemporal Study of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Israel-Gaza Conflict” and published by the Social Science Research Network, is part of a growing movement to hold states and businesses accountable for the climate and environmental costs of war and occupation.
Greenpeace open letter
Greenpeace Aotearoa recently came out with strong statements about the genocidal war on Gaza with executive director Russel Norman earlier this month writing an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters, expressing his grave concerns about the “ongoing genocide in Gaza being carried out by Israeli forces” — and the ongoing failure of the New Zealand Government to impose meaningful sanctions on Israel.
He referred to the mounting death toll of starving Palestinians being deliberately shot at the notorious Israeli-US backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites.
Norman also cited an Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz report that Israeli soldiers had been ordered to deliberately shoot unarmed Palestinians seeking aid, quoting one Israeli soldier saying: “It’s a killing field.”
Today’s rally featured many Palestinians wearing thobe costumes in advance of Palestinian Traditional Dress Day on July 25.
This is a day to showcase and celebrate the rich Palestinian cultural heritage through traditional clothing that is intricately embroidered.
Traditional thobes are a symbol of Palestinian resilience.
Something happened concerning ethnic goodwill in NZAO and I thought we should know about it. I don’t know if it will be followed by real assistance but there was a moment in time that could relate to goodness by this government, or not.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2507/S00167/speech-at-the-signing-of-the-harmony-accord.htm
Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 2:23 pm
Speech: New Zealand Government
Hon Mark Mitchell
Minister for Ethnic Communities
Tēnā koutou katoa. Shalom. As-salamu alaykum.
Your Excellency, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro
His Excellency Dr Richard Andrew
Faith and community leaders – Ibrar Sheikh, President of the Islamic Associations of New Zealand, and Phillip Green from the New Zealand Jewish Community Security Group Charitable Trust
Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers
Dr Melissa Derby, Race Relations Commissioner
Parliamentary colleagues
And other distinguished guests
…
This is a significant and brave stand taken by leaders of deep conviction, against division, hatred, and fear.
To the leaders here today, you have my deepest respect.
Your commitment to dialogue, to mutual respect, and to standing together in difficult times is something we can all learn from. Thank you for your leadership and for the example you have set. …
Nice words, good speech writer. What now?
Yet another reason mot to support Greenpeace.
Mot true!
I feel that the suffering should be careful of exposing their wounds to fresh air on this post. The air seems to carry toxic particles that may delay medical help and healing.
Somethings I became aware of and put some sums together.
I hear that Epstein and Trump have had dealings, possibly shady, as that seems to be the trend of both of them. Epstein was Jewish, and been involved in shady financial dealings and thought also, blackmail over sexual pursuits though the evidence is not found complete. Embarrassing for Trump possibly. Epstein has gone beyond so out of the scene. Trump now has dealings with Israel chiefs of war, and has made concessions.
Hidden things that could raise too much brouhaha would be unhelpful tin the present volatile, brittle situation.