Herzog protest in Sydney turns violent, elderly woman injured

Published: 10 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

In Sydney on Monday night a protest against Israeli President Herzog’s visit turned chaotic as police clashed with demonstrators and a woman was left with broken bones. The Herzog protest had begun peacefully with thousands of people assembling at Town Hall to voice opposition to the controversial visit. But tensions soared when officers, backed by expanded powers under a Major Events Act, attempted to restrict movement and disperse the crowd. A 69‑year‑old woman was pushed violently to the ground by an officer without warning, leaving her with four broken vertebrae and a long road to recovery ahead.

From the start the Herzog protest drew vigils and speeches from advocates and families grieving conflicts in the Middle East, underscoring deep emotional stakes. Organisers had hoped to march through the city, but a court rejected a legal challenge to the government’s decision to give police sweeping authority during the president’s visit. That decision meant officers were empowered to control crowd movement and enforce strict conditions, a factor critics argued contributed to the volatile turn of events.

As night fell and more people gathered, police repeatedly ordered the crowd to disperse amid the Herzog protest, warning that any attempt to march would breach restrictions. Some demonstrators tried to push past police lines, chanting for the right to continue their march, but were met with force. The atmosphere quickly escalated, with officers deploying pepper spray and making dozens of arrests in efforts to contain the rally.

Eyewitness footage from the Herzog protest captured chaotic scenes of police shoving participants and attempting to control the dense crowd. Many people found themselves caught between lines of advancing officers and barriers that blocked easy exits, intensifying panic and confusion. Paramedics were seen treating those affected by pepper spray, while others struggled to navigate the compacted square as heavy police presence dominated the space.

The injury to the elderly woman became a flashpoint in public debate. She described being pushed so forcefully that she immediately sensed severe harm, and while trying to stand up, other protesters were pushed onto her. After the incident, she could barely walk and was helped to safety before being taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed her fractured vertebrae. Despite not requiring surgery, she faces prolonged recovery and uncertainty about her future mobility.

Police have said they are reviewing body camera and social media footage to better understand the unfolding of events during the Herzog protest, but initial statements suggested they were unaware of the specific incident until it was brought to their attention. Officers maintained their actions were intended to uphold public safety amid what they described as unpredictable conditions, but questions remain about the proportionality of their response.

The significance of this particular protest was heightened by Sydney’s recent history of heightened tensions and legal moves to curb protests in certain areas after a terror attack late last year. Those measures, meant to safeguard large public gatherings, extinguish civil liability for police under the Major Events Act. Legal experts and activists argue this erodes accountability and dissuades individuals from seeking justice for excessive force or misconduct.

Political responses to the Herzog protest have been sharply divided. Some figures called for independent investigations into police conduct, arguing that civil rights and freedoms were undermined when law‑enforcement engages with peaceful demonstrators. The mayor of Sydney urged transparency and accountability, asserting that trust in police depends on clear, unbiased reviews of actions taken during high‑profile events.

At the same time, government leaders defended the police, citing the complexity of the situation and the need to prevent clashes between different groups in the city centre. They encouraged people to avoid judging brief clips of violent encounters without fuller context and reiterated the importance of law and order in managing large crowds.

The Herzog protest also saw religious demonstrators forcibly moved by officers while praying, and critics of the police operation noted this as a distressing example of overreach. Advocates for protest rights highlighted that the right to peaceful assembly and expression must be balanced with ensuring public safety, but warned that heavy‑handed tactics risk chilling legitimate dissent.

As Sydney and Australia continue to debate the implications of this protest and the response by authorities, many voices from across the political and civil spectrum are calling for reforms. They warn that without safeguards for the right to protest, incidents like those witnessed at the Herzog protest could erode public trust and stifle democratic expression.

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