The spokesperson for a New Zealand group advocating for human rights in Palestine does not believe a chant Chlöe Swarbrick used at a weekend rally is inflammatory, but rather about "liberation".
Swarbrick, the MP for Auckland Central, has been heavily criticised for yelling the controversial phrase: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
The slogan has been around for decades and appears in Palestinian folklore and revolutionary songs, but it is often labelled pro-Hamas.
After the backlash against Swarbrick from the Jewish community, many of whom believe the chant is a call to destroy Israel, Justice for Palestine spokesperson Samira Archer Zaiton explained their interpretation of it.
"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," she told Newshub Late on Monday.
"From a solidarity aspect, it's ka pai - what isn't helpful is the slogans calling for the liberation of Palestinians being misconstrued."
She said the chant was "about liberation from occupation... and it's a call for equality, for dignity, safety, human rights, equal rights and the freedom to simply exist".
"It's also a chant for Tino Rangatiratanga," she said, referring to the Māori term for self-determination. "It's very clear that the Palestinians are being oppressed in all of these ways and do not have those basic rights and freedoms."
At the same rally where Swarbrick used the chant, angry protesters shouted Labour MP Phil Twyford off the stage.
Speaking on Tuesday, Twyford acknowledged emotions were running high at the rally.
"I think the important thing is that it was a solidarity rally of people who were deeply upset about the carnage that is going on in Gaza right now, including a lot of people from the Palestinian community and the Middle Eastern community," Twyford said.
He wouldn't comment on Swarbrick's use of the chant.
"I choose not to," he said when asked about whether political leaders should be using inflammatory language.
Twyford's boss, outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, said the chant wasn't one he'd personally use.
Asked if he'd told his caucus not to use the phrase, the Labour leader told reporters: "No I haven't but I don't expect to see any of them using it."
Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses on Monday accused Swarbrick of "essentially stoked the crowd with this incendiary chant".
"It is offensive," Moses said. "It is widely understood to be a call for the annihilation of Israel and quite possibly the Jewish people.
"I think she should explain why she used it and what exactly she meant by using it and what her intentions were."
Green MP Swarbrick told Stuff after speaking with both Palestinian and Jewish people, she was comfortable with her use of the phrase.
"The pathway forward for ongoing peace means justice," she said. "That means an immediate ceasefire, return of all hostages on both sides and recognition of the humanity and human rights of Palestinians, wherever they are, but especially in their occupied homeland - from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea," Swarbrick told Stuff.
