Around 250 protesters have pelted the US consulate office in Auckand with shoes in a demonstration against last week's action by Israeli forces against a peace flotilla en route to Gaza.

Activists today marched through Auckland calling for comprehensive sanctions against the Israeli government.

Organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland, the protesters gathered at Aotea Square to express anger at Monday's killing of humanitarian aid workers by Israeli troops and to call for an end to the Israeli government's occupation and blockade of the Gaza strip.

Nine humanitarian aid workers - eight Turks and an American of Turkish origin - were killed when Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of boats travelling to Gaza to bring food and aid materials.

The Israeli troops have been accused of war crimes, although the troops say they fired in self-defence - Israel says the flotilla was used by activists intending violence.

The Auckland protest group, led by veteran protester John Minto, marched from Aotea Square to Customs Street where they then threw shoes at the US consulate building. They also burned an Israeli flag.

The throwing of shoes has become a symbol of opposition to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East after an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at then-US President George W Bush, during a press conference in December 2008.

''The sole of the shoe is dirty and holding up that to a person or a place is an insult. I guess it's the middle East equivalent of the whakapohane - the baring of the buttocks,'' Minto said.

He compared Israel's policies to that of the former apartheid South Africa and said the US consulate was being targeted because of its support of Israel.

''Israel only follows these policies because they have the full backing of the US. Without that Israel would not be able to survive as the apartheid state which it is.''

Green MP Keith Locke addressed the crowd of protesters.

"We have to stand up, like we are today, to put pressure on the Government to support the Palestinian people," he said.