Clashes between police and protesters escalated in Sydney on Monday as Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded a visit that sparked widespread demonstrations across Australia. Twenty-seven people were arrested after protesters attempted to breach barricades near Sydney Town Hall, according to New South Wales Police.
The confrontations began as speakers at the rally, organized by the Palestine Action Group (PAG), encouraged attendees to march through the city center, a move prohibited under recently extended protest restrictions. Police deployed pepper spray in an effort to disperse the crowd, resulting in scuffles and multiple arrests. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna stated that officers were “jostled, threatened and assaulted” during the intervention, and that ten officers sustained injuries, though none were serious.
The restrictions on non-static protests in Sydney’s central business district and eastern suburbs were initially implemented after a deadly attack on a Jewish celebration in December and were extended last week in anticipation of Herzog’s visit. PAG spokesperson Josh Lees criticized the measures, stating at a protest outside Surry Hills Police Station on Tuesday, “In order to roll out the red carpet for him they crushed the rights of the people in this city to protest against him. We absolutely will not be intimidated.”
Footage circulating on social media, including a video shared by Greens senator David Shoebridge, appears to show police using force against protesters. Nine people – seven men and two women aged between 19 and 67 – have been charged with offenses including assaulting or hindering police and failing to comply with police directions, with six others to be issued with court attendance notices.
The visit also drew criticism from some Australian lawmakers. While the Supreme Court upheld the expanded police powers granted for Herzog’s visit, some observers questioned the level of force used against demonstrators. Herzog himself laid a wreath at the Bondi synagogue on Monday, an event that was met by a counter-protest, according to reports.
Tensions remained high on Tuesday, with hundreds of protesters gathering outside Surry Hills Police Station. Police maintained a visible presence, with over 100 officers stationed at the location. The Palestine Action Group has called for further protests on Wednesday.
