A pro-Palestinian protester disrupted a meeting at a Christchurch café today, where Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee, National MP Hamish Campbell, and the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, Tom Udall, were present.

The protester, who was filming the encounter, confronted Ambassador Udall and asked, “Why is the United States violating Article One of the Genocide Convention, sir? I think we should stop violating Article One of the Genocide Convention. That’s all.”

“I don’t think we should be engaging in genocide in Gaza. Ambassador, do you feel comfortable working for ‘Genocide Joe,’ the war criminal who’s enabled the genocide in Gaza?”

Since the war began, at least 40,405 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments, according to Hamas’ Ministry of Health. At least 93,356 Palestinians have been wounded in these attacks.

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed across the border into Israeli communities. Israel said militants killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 253 into captivity in Gaza.

Following today’s café confrontation, Brownlee, Campbell, and Udall left the premises.

However, the protester, who identified himself as Ben from California, continued to follow them, pressing Udall with, “Do you condemn the Flour Massacre?”

This referred to an incident in the Gaza Strip on 29 February 2024, where at least 118 Palestinians were killed and 760 injured after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians seeking food from aid trucks on Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City.

The protester continued, “Do you condemn the death of Hala Khreis, the grandmother who was waving a white flag when she was shot by an Israeli sniper?

“How many children of Gaza must die before you stop giving the Israelis weapons to kill children?

“For God’s sake, man, have some compassion,” the protester added. “We don’t have to wait for history to judge you and Genocide Joe. We can judge you right now, and remember, every country and every place that you attend, we will be there to hound you until you do the right thing. Free Palestine!” he shouted.

The video was later published on activist John Minto’s social media.

President Biden nominated Udall to be the Ambassador to New Zealand on July 16, 2021, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him on October 26, 2021.