Police said yesterday a 23-year-old man had been arrested and charged with assault in relation to the incident.
The lunchtime gathering of about 40 pro-Palestine supporters in the Octagon in Dunedin was held after the Israel Institute of New Zealand complained about an image of a 15-year-old girl wearing traditional attire — a keffiyeh — being used in a campaign about safety on city buses.
The 23-year-old alleged assailant shoved a man to the ground and stormed off only to turn around and shove a second man to the ground before raising his foot and appearing to stomp on the man who lay prone on the footpath.
The first of the two men who was shoved to the ground, Sam Bosshard, said he was in the Octagon yesterday because he felt outrage that a "young kid proudly displaying their cultural attire" had been targeted by those opposed to the pro-Palestine movement.
During the display of solidarity with the teenager and her family, the 23-year-old man approached protesters and began talking about the war in Gaza, saying that "both sides are partly to blame", Mr Bosshard said.
"He kept pushing and pushing and pushing and eventually I said, ‘Well, no, I don’t ... I don’t see that both sides are to blame’.
"He just suddenly started getting aggressive and said, ‘Oh, I’ll knock your block off’ and came over and shoved me in the chest and I ended up on the pavement."
Mr Bosshard said he did not recognise the young man, but he had noticed a growing aggression among some of those opposed to Dunedin’s pro-Palestine movement.
The second victim, who asked not to be named, said he was arriving to join the protest when he heard the younger man walking away say "F... Palestine."
The victim said he responded with "F... you", which provoked the second attack, he said.
Of concern to the Israel Institute of New Zealand, whose complaint sparked yesterday’s protest, was a photograph distributed by the Otago Regional Council, featuring Highlander Jona Nareki on a city bus surrounded by a group of six teenagers.
One of the teens is wearing a keffiyeh and a necklace, which in the complaint is described as a map of Israel — and which is interpreted as "clear political message" that "the whole land should be Arab controlled".
Yesterday, the institute’s Dr David Cumin repeated his concern with the imagery, but condemned the violence in the Octagon.
"The teenager may or may not have been conscious about showing a political message — we are more concerned at the lack of judgement by the [ORC], who approved an advert that has clear political overtones, when they claim to be neutral."
"I unconditionally condemn all such violence."
The teenage girl at the centre of the initial complaint was at school yesterday and not at the city-centre gathering, her parents said.
However, her mother, whom the Otago Daily Times agreed not to name, said her daughter was wearing a keffiyeh in the photograph because she was proud of her Palestinian heritage and the necklace she wore was a gift from her 95-year-old grandfather, who lived there.
The mother said dragging a minor into the political debate was "crossing all lines".
"Of course, it has had its own impact on our wellbeing as a family.
"I’m worried about my daughter’s safety and other young people’s safety."
Council chief executive Richard Saunders said yesterday social media posts from its bus safety campaign were temporarily paused last week "as a precaution to protect the young volunteers in the images" while complaints were addressed.
Mr Saunders said the campaign’s marketing material was still in place and the campaign would continue.
The council was "politically neutral and we have no political intent in any campaign we run".
"However, we respect the right of respectful expression of all views and have been communicating directly with all parties writing to us."
A police spokeswoman said police were called to the Octagon about 12.30pm after a report of two men being assaulted.
There were no serious injuries, and an ambulance was not required, the spokeswoman said.
A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault.
He was due to appear in the Dunedin District Court on Thursday, she said.
