"Herzog to The Hague" Thousands Rally Against Herzog in Sydney

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia has exposed sharp tensions between diplomatic protocol and the country’s response to the war in Gaza, as thousands rallied nationwide and police enforced exceptional security measures in Sydney.

Security Powers and Protest Limits

Herzog arrived in Australia for a four-day visit beginning Feb 9, with Sydney designated a special protected area under state law. Authorities deployed about 3,000 police personnel, including mounted units and aerial surveillance, granting officers expanded powers to restrict movement, disperse crowds, and conduct searches, the New South Wales police said.

Thousands gathered in Sydney’s central business district, while further protests were planned across cities and towns nationwide. Demonstrators faced arrest if they joined a march organized by the Palestine Action Group from Sydney Town Hall to the New South Wales Parliament, which fell inside the restricted zone. A legal challenge against the protest limits failed in a Sydney court on Monday.

New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Peter McKenna told Nine News, “We’re hoping we won’t have to use any powers, because we’ve been liaising very closely with the protest organisers.”

Despite this, police used pepper spray and tear gas during clashes as some protesters attempted to breach police lines. Several arrests were made, according to authorities.

Bondi Memorial and Diplomatic Framing

Herzog began his visit at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, laying a wreath for victims of the Dec. 14 Hanukkah celebration attack that killed 15 people. He met survivors and families of those killed before addressing the memorial.

“This was also an attack on all Australians,” Herzog said. “They attacked the values that our democracies treasure, the sanctity of human life, the freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.” He added, “I’m here to express solidarity, friendship, and love.”

Herzog is scheduled to visit Melbourne and Canberra before returning to Israel on Thursday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians to respect the solemn nature of the visit, saying Herzog had “come here in goodwill.”

Accusations, Gaza, and Accountability

Protest organizers and human rights groups said the visit should not shield Herzog from public opposition.

Welcoming President Herzog as an official guest undermines Australia’s commitment to accountability and justice. We cannot remain silent.

Amnesty International Australia

In September, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Herzog “incited the commission of genocide” by saying all Palestinians, “an entire nation,” were responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.

Since those attacks, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, a figure IDF has confirmed, with tens of thousands believed uncounted under rubble, according to figures cited by activists.

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed in October last year, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed since, and restrictions on aid entry into Gaza remain in place, protest groups said.

Jewish Community Response

The protests unfolded alongside official events welcoming Herzog. More than a kilometer from the demonstrations, thousands of Jewish community members and officials attended a memorial event at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.

Herzog told the audience, according to ABC News, “We all remember the boycotts, the threats, the colleagues who turned their backs on their Jewish friends … that was the prelude to Bondi.”

The Jewish Council of Australia released an open letter signed by more than 1,000 Jewish Australian academics and community leaders urging Albanese to rescind the invitation.

Protester Jackson Elliott, 30, said, “The Bondi massacre was terrible but from our Australian leadership there’s been no acknowledgment of the Palestinian people and the Gazans.”