Clashes Erupt at Sydney Protest Against Israeli President's Visit

"...Ugly scenes at a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog – where an MP was allegedly assaulted – were devastating and amounted to "a riot", leaders say...."

"...Demonstrators were pepper-sprayed, arrested, beaten and shoved by police as they gathered at Sydney Town Hall on Monday evening to protest Herzog's arrival in the harbour city earlier that day...."

"...One video shared on social media shows a group of Muslim men praying before being ripped from their knees and taken away by police, while another showed a man with raised hands being repeatedly punched in the stomach by an officer...."

"...NSW Premier Chris Minns said the full context needed to be taken into account as he defended relations between authorities and the Muslim community...."

"...The premier also took aim at his own MPs who attended the rally, vowing not to change his political agenda as he called out some speakers for attempting to march despite police restrictions...."

"...Labor MP Sarah Kaine, who spoke at the rally, rejected the premier's implication that representatives were trying to whip up protesters...."

"...Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the scuffles that broke out were disheartening, but he emphasised that police had been clear prior to the rally about its geographic limits...."

"...But Greens MP Abigail Boyd said her assault by three police officers near a group of people in prayer dispelled notions the response was proportionate...."

"...Organisers had hoped to march through the Sydney city centre, but a last-minute court decision upheld the police's ability to restrict protests and scuppered plans...."

"...As the Town Hall demonstration drew to an end, the protesters moved towards an opening in the police cordon, with some trying to leave and others calling on the hundreds of surrounding officers to let them march...."

"...Officers restricted movement along most of the square's mouth, forcing the large group into a gridlock as protesters' chants grew louder and the police presence swelled...."

"...Police issued a move-on order but the situation escalated as the densely packed crowd struggled to leave before officers rushed at protesters in an attempt to disperse the group...."

"...Dr Paula Abood, a community worker, said she was assaulted by police on two occasions while trying to aid other rally-goers who were being hit...."

"...Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting officers...."

"...Herzog, whose prior comments a UN inquiry found might reasonably have been interpreted as inciting genocide against Palestinians, was invited to Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after December's Bondi massacre...."

"...He visited the scene of the terror attack on Monday and is set to attend more community events on Tuesday...."

"...Asked on Monday, if he had a message to protesters, he said the demonstrations "undermine and delegitimise" Israel's existence...."