Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
A street in central Wellington has been closed with about 100 people protesting outside the Israeli Embassy.
One of the organisers, Seka, told RNZ they were taking action in solidarity with Lebanon as conflict with Israel escalates, and fears mount over a possible ground offensive by Israel's military.
Protesters are blowing whistles, banging pots and pans and sounding alarms - and it is deafeningly loud.
Brandon Street is closed.
Photo: RNZ / Lauren Crimp
Protesters are demanding the government sanction Israel.
"Today we're here in support of the Lebanese people," Seka, who did not want her last name used, said.
Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
"What the Israeli army is doing in Lebanon is exactly what they were doing to the Palestinians in Gaza."
They had not spoken to anyone at the Israeli Embassy, she said.
Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
Green MPs Ricardo Menéndez March, Tamatha Paul and Teanau Tuiono were at the protest, and said they wanted the government to help evacuate Lebanese people.
"And most importantly right now, to reunite families who are split across continents," Menéndez March said.
"The government should grant special visas to make sure those family members can come in safely."
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters would be making an important address at the UN on Friday, and that had to be followed up with action domestically including sanctioning Israel, expelling the Israeli ambassador, and supporting Lebanese and Palestinian families in Aotearoa, he said.
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement it would not expell the Israeli Ambassador.
It said the government has repeatedly expressed concern about the actions of all parties in the Middle East conflict.
It pointed to previous government statements - in May, Peters urged Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
In September, New Zealand voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel's presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats.
The resolution affirmed the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian Territory was unlawful.
He said a two-state solution was the only durable and just solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
