Auckland Museum apologises after light display sparks protest

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Auckland Museum sparked a pro-Palestinian protest after it lit up blue for Israel on Sunday night.

Auckland Museum has apologised after pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the building on Sunday evening to protest the museum’s decision to light up blue and white in support of Israel.

Video of the incident shows multiple cars parked outside the museum, where Palestinian supporters waved flags, chanted “free Palestine” and covered the lights with jackets and scarfs, effectively “blacking out” the museum lights.

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David Reeves, Chief Executive of Auckland War Memorial Museum, said he wanted the light display to be a show of hope but admitted their approach was “wrong”.

“I personally apologise for the distress and hurt caused to members of our community. I am carefully reviewing and reflecting on all of the feedback we have received,” he said.

“As a War Memorial Museum, we continue to hope for deeper understanding and a peaceful resolution to conflict.”

This comes one week after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel as part of their historical and long-standing conflict.

The militants fired thousands of rockets at Israel while dozens of fighters infiltrated the border and invaded Israeli communities. More than 120 soldiers and civilians were taken hostage by militia groups.

Hatem Ali/AP

Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023.

In response, Israel declared war, firing airstrikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and ordered a “complete siege” of the Palestinian enclave. Thousands have been killed on both sides and more injured.

An Israeli order to cut off all food, electricity and water to Gaza will likely worsen the plight of residents in what has been called the “world’s largest open-air prison”.

Janfrie Wakim, a protester and member of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, was at the event.

She said Palestinian supporters put out the blue and white lights by covering them with items of clothes.

“It was a non-violent act of civil-disobedience,” she said.

Wakim said she didn’t believe a museum should take sides in an active conflict.

“I feel as if there is absolutely no place for the museum [to comment on the conflict],” she added. “It is a war memorial museum, and it was set up at a time of imperialist power and the whole irony of this is that it is British imperialism that created the issue of Palestinians losing their sovereignty.”

Juliet Moses, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council, said she was “dismayed” by the protest and subsequent apology from the museum.

“The apology felt like the museum was caving to intimidation – it felt like a betrayal and it would’ve been better if they had done nothing at all.”

Moses said the Jewish community had appreciated the solidarity shown through the lights.

“The museum has lit up for other victims of terrorism and this was undoubtedly a terror attack and the deadliest day for us since the Holocaust.

“It was very dismaying to see such strong objections to the solidarity.”

Jewish people around the world were feeling “real pain and trauma”, Moses said, and felt vulnerable and unsafe.

“We despair for all loss of innocent life,” she said.

Aucklander Bryce Turner went with his wife and colleague to see the museum's lights and hold a candlelight vigil.

He is not from Israel nor is he Jewish, but said he had visited the country multiple times and was worried about his friends that live there.

“We’d lost some friends. We have some people who we know are missing,” Turner said.

Tensions were high when he arrived, and he did not feel safe, he said. “Our flags were stolen, our car was kicked.”

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Auckland Museum had social media posts on Instagram stories and Facebook stories in support of Israel as of 8am on Monday.

Police confirmed there was a “verbal altercation” but said there had been no arrests and no reports of injuries.

Turner said police helped him to safely leave the area.

Auckland Museum posted on social media Sunday night, writing its “thoughts go out to the many civilians impacted as a result of the terrorist attack in Israel.”

“Your museum is lit in blue and white in solidarity with Israel. Our thoughts go out to the many civilians impacted as a result of the terrorist attack a week ago today.

“As a war memorial, we value the importance of peaceful dialogue and understanding. We condemn all acts of violence and terrorism.”