Auckland vigils and rallies
Aucklanders gathered in a solemn vigil on 10 October, three days after the horrific massacre of Israelis and other nationals that saw 1,200 brutally murdered and another 239 people kidnapped. In a moving candlelit event, songs and speeches expressed the sorrow of the grieving community.
Daniel Kalman, in a moving speech stated,
“The NZ Jewish community is not unscathed - many of us are grieving and horrified for friends and relatives…We expect all people no matter what their nationality or faith to denounce the criminal terror violence…We are disgusted when we hear apologists for the murderers and their supporters. Any who fail to distance themselves from these horrible acts of mayhem are complicit in the evil.”
On 29 October, around one thousand Israel supporters gathered again at Aotea Square to draw attention to the plight of hostages held in captivity by Hamas, including thirty babies and children, a holocaust survivor, a heavily pregnant woman and many nationalities.
Posters of the hostages were displayed, along with red balloons and empty shoes to represent the missing children.
The speakers included Karen Chhour, ACT List MP, Rob Berg, ex-president Zionist Federation of New Zealand; Shosh Maasland, from the New Zealand Jewish Council; former National MP Alfred Ngaro; Dr Sheree Trotter, Indigenous Coalition for Israel; Jenny Matheson; Leah Burger; Karin Horen; Adi Einhar; and Henri Eliot, Honorary Consul to Israel.
Kalman, interviewed by Newshub stated, “My mother, my brother, my sister, nieces, nephews," he listed. "We think life for us will never be the same after we saw the atrocities of October 7. We will never stop grieving and sorrowing for the victims."
"We remain horrified for the fate of over 200 hostages who are held by these terrorists," he said.
He said he attended the protest to "show support for Israel" and believes the New Zealand public "might not be conscious of the gravity of the crimes that were committed and the plight that Israel is in".
"The evil that we saw on October 7 must not be allowed to continue," he stressed.
He said he has one message for Palestinians living in New Zealand.
"The Israelis and the Jewish people have nothing against the Palestinians," he assured. "We have only ever sought to live with the Palestinians in peace - that has not changed."
Auckland will continue to hold silent vigils to raise awareness of the plight of the hostages still held in captivity. One vigil was held at St. Heliers Beach and others are planned. Organiser Rob Berg, explained, “The silent vigil at St Heliers Beach was for mainly two reasons. First to keep the plight of the hostages in the public’s eye and secondly, having all the placards of the hostages at the beach showed the extent of the hostages in terms of numbers and age range from a 9 month old baby to elderly people including holocaust survivors. Passerbys were able to see the sheer numbers. It was a powerful reminder to people as to part of what happened to Israelis on 7 October.”
