Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Sydney on Monday, February 9, 2026, to protest the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The rally, which began peacefully at Sydney Town Hall, escalated into confrontations with police as protesters attempted to march through the city OR disperse. NSW Police reported 27 arrests, including 10 for assaulting officers, and confirmed the deployment of pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Injuries were reported.
The protest was organized by groups including the Palestine Action Group (PAG), who had lost a last-minute legal challenge against expanded police powers that restricted non-static protests in parts of Sydney’s CBD. These restrictions were implemented following an earlier event and extended ahead of President Herzog’s visit. Despite these measures, thousands gathered, expressing strong criticism of Herzog’s presence in Australia, with many holding Palestinian flags and signs.
Tensions flared when organizers invited attendees to march, prompting police intervention to maintain order and enforce the protest restrictions. Scuffles broke out as officers attempted to move the crowd, leading to instances of protesters being restrained and arrested. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna stated that officers were “jostled, threatened and assaulted” during the dispersal, with ten officers sustaining injuries described as “melees” and “rolling fights,” though no serious injuries were reported among them.
Protesters voiced anger over President Herzog’s visit, citing a United Nations special inquiry that found him among Israeli leaders who incited the commission of genocide in Gaza. While Israel rejects the allegation of genocide and Herzog maintains his comments have been taken out of context, the protesters argued that he should not be immune to criticism. Some attendees expressed that while the Bondi Beach massacre was a tragedy, there had been insufficient acknowledgment of the suffering of Palestinian people and Gazans from Australian leadership.
The events in Sydney mirrored similar protests in Melbourne, where thousands also gathered to demand an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. In Sydney, despite the clashes and arrests, the protest highlighted the deep divisions and strong sentiments surrounding the ongoing international conflict, underscoring the contentious nature of President Herzog’s visit to Australia.
