Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters converge on Parliament's lawn

Two large marches, one pro-Palestine, the other pro-Israel, converged on Parliament's lawn on Wednesday afternoon.

The Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa had organised an 'Aotearoa National Rally for Gaza' to walk through Wellington on Wednesday and deliver a petition to MPs.

They were instead met with a gathering of pro-Israeli protesters, waving flags and chanting "bring them home" on a megaphone.

An organiser from the pro-Palestine side claimed they organised their protest first. But she said the government had facilitated both for freedom of speech.

A person standing with Israel said they were there to stand against rising anti-Semitic sentiment.

At the height of the protest there were about 500 protesters on each side and an RNZ reporter at the scene said it had been peaceful - although some barbs had been exchanged with both sides accusing each other of genocide.

MPs from Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori stood on Parliament's forecourt to welcome the pro-Palestine marchers.

ACT MP Simon Court was seen speaking with the pro-Israel contingent, which also included former National MP Alfred Ngaro, and Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki.

Police had set up a barricade between the two sides of the lawn.

The Greens have launched a member's bill following the rally, calling on the government to duplicate the framework of the Russia Sanctions Act to allow sanctions to be imposed against Israel.

There was a large Destiny Church contingent in the pro-Israel side. Many were wearing Man Up shirts.

A final speaker associated with Destiny Church demanded the government not give any further funding to the Palestinian groups, claiming they were tied up with Hamas.

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