Australian authorities appealed for calm and urged peaceful protest on Tuesday following violent confrontations in Sydney between police and demonstrators opposing the official visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The disturbances broke out on Monday evening as officers attempted to disperse a large crowd gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall. New South Wales Police reported making 27 arrests, including ten people charged with assaulting police officers. Authorities stated that no life-threatening injuries occurred during the incident.
The protests were sparked by Mr. Herzog’s arrival in Australia, coming in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach in December that left 15 people dead. The visit is intended to express solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community at a time of elevated tensions related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced strong disapproval of the violence, telling Triple M radio he felt “devastated” by the scenes. He stressed that while Australians want an end to the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians, they do not wish to see overseas conflicts brought onto Australian streets. “These kinds of images do not advance any cause—they undermine it,” he said.
Police deployed rarely used special powers that permitted them to direct crowds, close off areas, and conduct vehicle searches. A court had rejected a legal challenge to these measures earlier that day. President Herzog was not present at the protest site.
Video footage captured protesters attempting to push through barriers while officers forced them back. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to regain control. Some demonstrators were seen being restrained on the ground.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns supported the police operation, describing the situation as “impossible” and requiring rapid decisions under pressure. He called for calm while recognising public criticism of police tactics.
The Palestine Action Group Sydney claimed officers had surrounded protesters, then charged on horseback and used pepper spray, punches, and arrests indiscriminately. Greens MP Abigail Boyd said she was struck by police while attempting to leave the area, sustaining pain to her arm and shoulder.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon maintained that officers showed restraint while facing what he called an “angry and violent mob.” He defended the decision to disperse the gathering for public safety.
In response, Palestine Action Group Sydney leader Josh Lees confirmed plans for a demonstration outside police headquarters on Tuesday evening.
The episode underscores the intense emotions surrounding the Israeli president’s presence in Australia at this sensitive moment
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