Chlöe Swarbrick has apologised after using a pro-Palestinian phrase during a solidarity rally in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday.
Swarbrick told Newstalk ZB she apologised "to those who felt as though it has [offended them]".
She declined to comment on the matter when further questioned by Newshub.
It comes after the Green MP said, "from the river to the sea" to a crowd gathered at Pukekawa/ Auckland Domain, to which they responded, "Palestine will be free".
To some, the chant refers to a unified Palestine - stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean, across land currently claimed by Israel.
To others, the phrase is deemed offensive and pro-Hamas.
But Swarbrick said she condemns hatred.
"I absolutely abhor and decry anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and violence in all of its forms."
She said justice is critical to restore peace.
"That means an immediate ceasefire, a return of all hostages on all sides and a recognition of humanity and human rights of Palestinians."
Swarbrick said she found media coverage on her turn of phrase "fascinating" and "terrifying".
"There seems to be greater focus on the words that we are using to advocate for Palestinian freedom than that literal genocide."
The New Zealand Jewish Council told Newshub on Monday the phrase was antisemitic.
Spokesperson Juliet Moses said Swarbrick "essentially stoked the crowd with this incendiary chant".
"It is widely understood to be a call for the annihilation of Israel and quite possibly the Jewish people," Moses said.
On the other hand, Justice for Palestine told Newshub Late on Tuesday it's not helpful for slogans to be misconstrued.
Spokesperson Samira Archer Zaiton said it's really about "liberation from occupation."
"It's a call for equality, for dignity, safety, human rights, equal rights and the freedom to simply exist. "The chant... calls for the liberation of Palestinians from the chokehold that they've been living under for 75 years and it's a chant that we give our breath to so that, one day, Palestinians can breathe."
