In an indication of how biased media coverage of Israel's war on Hamas is affecting international public opinion, Israelis were banned from two popular New Zealand restaurants this week.

An Israeli residing in town of Kaikoura told Ynet that he was shocked to find a sign on the door of the Strawberry Tree pub reading: "Israelis not welcome before shelling (in Gaza) stops".

Two Israelis vacationing in another part of the country said they were thrown out of a local cafe when the owner discovered their nationality.

The owner, a Turkish Muslim, said he would not serve Israelis until Israel "stops killing innocent babies and women in Gaza."

Many Israelis have complained that the foreign media's overriding focus on scenes of death and destruction on the Palestinian side of the fence, without adequately covering Israel's version of events, gives the impression that Israel is just killing as many Arabs as possible for sport.