More than 100 Southlanders gathered at a vigil for peace in Gaza in Invercargill last evening, while about 15 people stood in support for Israel about 50m away.
Former Invercargill deputy mayor Rebecca Amundsen said people at the Gala St reserve stood in solidarity with Palestine and wanted to join the rest of the country in sending a message to the government to call for a ceasefire in Palestine.
Southland Mosque imam Reza Abdul-Jabbar said the indiscriminate bombings in Israel were not acceptable and it was important to stand up against oppression for all people.
One Israel supporter said New Zealanders could stand against terrorism. He said he would not call for a ceasefire because the instigator of the terrorist attacks needed to be held accountable.
