Clashes Erupt in Sydney During Protest Against Israeli President's Visit

In Sydney, a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police, leading to 27 arrests and several injuries. The demonstration, organized by the Palestine Action Group (PAG), began at Town Hall with approximately 6,000 participants. Tensions rose when protesters attempted to march to the New South Wales Parliament, defying restrictions imposed under the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) and the Major Events Act.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna stated that officers faced "threatened, jostled and assaulted" during the unrest. He defended the police response, emphasizing the challenges posed by the crowd's behavior. Premier Chris Minns supported the police actions, noting that authorities had engaged in days of negotiations with PAG to relocate the protest to Hyde Park to ensure safety.

PAG spokesperson Josh Lees criticized the police response, arguing that the violence could have been avoided if authorities had permitted the march. He described the police actions as disproportionate and announced plans for another protest outside a Sydney police station.

The protest coincided with President Herzog's visit to Sydney, which included meetings with survivors and families of victims from the December 2025 Bondi Beach attack. The visit has been met with opposition from pro-Palestinian groups and others critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, leading to heightened tensions and increased security measures.