Amundsen: 'Innocent people are dying for no reason'

“It would be very easy for us just to carry on and act like life is normal, but the reality is there is genocide happening."

Rebecca Amundsen and six others have organised a Vigil for Peace in Invercargill on Friday.

A former deputy mayor says it is time that Invercargill adds its voice to calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Like many, Rebecca Amundsen is “shocked” and “horrified” with what is unfolding in Gaza where thousands of civilians have been caught up in the conflict.

“It would be very easy for us just to carry on and act like life is normal, but the reality is there is genocide happening. After World War II they said, ‘never again’, and it’s happening right before our eyes.”

Amundsen wants louder voices from New Zealand’s elected representatives around a call for a ceasefire.

During the weekend - in his capacity as Labour Party leader - Chris Hipkins publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

However, it attracted criticism from the National Party who suggested Hipkins was playing politics.

National’s foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee told Morning Report on Monday the conflict was “an absolutely terrible situation”.

Brownlee said US diplomats were working with Kuwaitis to effect a ceasefire.

"Just calling for a ceasefire is not going to make it happen. We have to have a high degree of diplomacy, unfortunately, and all around that Israeli and Palestinian people are suffering.”

Although Amundsen believed it was right to join global calls for a ceasefire.

“We are already seeing the pressure being put on across the world for a ceasefire is starting to make a difference. Countries are starting to make a stand and that is what is needed.”

Amundsen is part of a group of seven people who are organising a Vigil for Peace in Invercargill on Friday. It will be held at the Gala St Reserve between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Other organisers include Invercargill city councillor Steve Broad, Conrad Broad, Amanda and Alistair Smith, Hannah Mason, and Sarah Donnelly.

“This is a peaceful vigil for the children and the people of Gaza/Palestine. It is a vigil for humanitarian rights and the desperate need for the war to cease.”

“We ask people to maintain a peaceful presence ensuring we are respected and heard.”

Those attending the vigil will be encouraged to write letters to elected officials asking for a ceasefire.

Amundsen did not buy into the theory that a gathering in Invercargill, about a conflict in Gaza, would have little impact.

“I think the whole nation needs to stand for this, that’s how we make a difference.”

“The reality is the more voices - how big or small they are, in terms of the visibility of them - the better.”

“The fact that over 10,000 civilians have been killed in 45 days, and apparently, they’ve stopped counting. It’s innocent people dying for no reason.”

Amundsen said the group of organisers connected through social media with a common belief they could not sit back and do nothing.

“We decided we need to do more than just reading and learning what’s going on, we actually want to take some action and we thought this was a good first step.”

“The indication from the group who have helped organise it is they have been finding there are lots of people keen to add their voice for a ceasefire, but people don’t know where to start.”

The group decided to have a vigil for peace believing it would be the best first step for Invercargill.

“I know other places are doing rallies and protests, and that may well be where the people of Invercargill would like to go with this, but we just thought that as a first starting point, having a vigil to add Invercargill’s voice would be a good place to start.”