Israeli soldiers involved in an operation that left thousands of Palestinians dead will speak at Victoria University, to the horror of some staff and students.

But the group of Jewish students bringing the former soldiers out say attempts to stop them coming to the university are an affront to free speech.

Students are planning to picket the Tuesday evening event at the university while 11 academics have signed a letter opposing it, arguing Palestinians would not be able to do the same.

DAVID WHITE/FAIRFAX NZ Dougal McNeill of Victoria University is among the academics who signed a letter protesting against former Israeli soldiers talking on campus

While Canterbury University's Political Science Society decided not to host the soldiers, Victoria University has no plans to cancel the event.

A spokeswoman said the event was organised by a student club, and clubs were free to book rooms without permission or consent from the university.

The event, at the Cotton Building, is organised by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS).

Spokesman Caelan MacBeth said it was shameful students were trying to prevent "an open exchange of views on a complex, longstanding Middle East conflict".

"The basis upon which a university is built is that of debate, open discussion, equality of representation, and the right to free speech."

The reserve soldiers were now students of medicine and business on holiday in New Zealand and planned to share their experiences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Stopping them talking would flout the Bill of Rights Act, which allowed the freedom of expression, he said in a statement.

A letter signed by 11 academics expressed dismay the university would host the event which was "part of a nationwide campaign to justify Israeli crimes in last year's war in Gaza".

Operation Protective Edge in 2014 saw an Israel assault on the Gaza Strip in which more than 2000 people were killed. Of them, 1523 were civilians, the letter said.

"The United Nations stated that Israel's use of heavy artillery against Gaza 'may amount to a war crime'."

Educational institutes were damaged and students were among the dead.

"It is astonishing, therefore, that an exercise in propaganda and apologetics for military violence should be hosted at a university setting under the guise of education and learning opportunities," the letter states.

"This meeting gives a platform to [Israeli Defence Force] soldiers for them to celebrate the very conflict that led to such massive Palestinian loss of life."

English lecturer Dougal McNeill – who signed the statement – said the event was nothing more than a propaganda project by Israel which, due largely to the rise of social media, was facing a "public relations disaster" after the deadly operation.

Palestinians would not be offered the same freedom, as most were unable to leave Palestine, he said.

While it seemed inevitable the event would go ahead he wished it would be cancelled.

Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association President Rick Zwaan said he had nothing to do with bookings, which were left to the university.

He had talked to both AUJS and Students for Palestine, which would be demonstrating at the event.

He understood the soldiers had been involved in Operation Protective Edge.

"I personally feel this is a valid thing to have a discussion on but having a soldier there could be overly provocative."

Victoria student Ian Anderson, from Students for Justice in Palestine, confirmed students would be protesting at the event.

"These people are representing the Israeli state. Victoria University should not be a party to this. There is no neutral position on atrocities."

In late 2014 the United Nations issued a statement saying Operation Protective Edge was a "clear violation of Israel's obligations as the occupying power to protect the civilian population under its occupation and to ensure their dignity and well-being".

Of the 2205 Palestinians killed, 1483 were civilians including more than 521 children and 283 women.

"Grave breaches of the [Geneva] Convention also took place against the wounded and the sick and against hospitals, medical and humanitarian personnel."