Sydney protest pepper spray clash during Herzog Australia visit

Published: 09 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A tense Sydney protest erupted into confrontation after police used pepper spray on demonstrators opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s official visit to Australia. The Sydney protest drew thousands near Town Hall, where crowds gathered to voice political anger and humanitarian concerns. The event followed days of online mobilisation and public debate across Australia and the United Kingdom. Verified reports from international and UK-based sources confirm that officers intervened after march attempts breached emergency protest limits. The Sydney protest quickly became a focal point for wider tensions around free speech, security laws, and global conflict reactions.

Crowds began assembling in central Sydney during the early evening as organisers called for a peaceful rally. Participants carried banners, chanted slogans, and listened to speeches from public figures and lawmakers. Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame addressed attendees from a temporary stage near Town Hall. Several New South Wales Labor backbenchers also attended, despite government pressure discouraging their presence at the gathering. The mood was loud but initially controlled, with stewards urging calm and cooperation with authorities.

Police numbers steadily increased around the protest zone as the crowd grew larger and more energetic. Riot squad officers, mounted police units, and aerial surveillance were deployed across nearby streets and intersections. Barriers restricted movement toward major roads, including George Street, where demonstrators hoped to march symbolically. Officers cited recently strengthened state security laws that limit protest marches after the Bondi terror attack. Those laws allow static assemblies but restrict moving demonstrations without prior authorisation from police commanders.

Tension rose when protest organisers entered prolonged negotiations with police supervisors about allowing a short march route. Witnesses reported heated but structured discussions between liaison officers and rally representatives during the standoff. Many in the crowd began chanting demands to proceed, beating drums and calling for marching rights. When a section of protesters attempted to move forward together, police lines tightened and physical contact followed. Within moments, officers deployed pepper spray toward people at the front of the advancing group.

Video verified by multiple newsrooms shows several protesters recoiling and retreating after the pepper spray discharge. People near the front covered their faces, coughed heavily, and poured water over their eyes for relief. Medics and volunteer helpers moved through the Sydney protest crowd offering saline and basic first aid support. Some demonstrators fell during the sudden backward surge, creating confusion and brief panic near barricaded areas. Police then detained several individuals during scuffles that broke out along the edge of the restricted zone.

NSW Labor backbencher Anthony D’Adam, who attended the rally, later described the police response as excessive and avoidable. He said cooperation existed early, but the situation changed after a physical incident involving an officer and a woman. According to his account, an officer pushed a bicycle into a protester, causing distress and anger nearby. He alleged that further officers joined rapidly, forcing people down and throwing punches during the confrontation. Police officials said operational reviews would assess all use-of-force decisions made during the volatile moments.

Authorities stated that officer actions followed risk assessments linked to crowd movement and legal protest boundaries. They emphasised that unauthorised marches create unpredictable safety threats in high-density city locations during major events. No official injury totals were immediately released, though ambulance crews treated several people at the scene. Civil liberty advocates have since called for an independent review of the Sydney protest policing strategy. They argue that emergency laws should not permanently narrow peaceful assembly rights in democratic public spaces.

Parallel demonstrations unfolded in Melbourne, where thousands gathered to protest the same presidential visit and policies. Footage from Melbourne shows clashes in limited areas, with at least one protester affected by pepper spray. Victoria Police confirmed minor confrontations but said most of the rally activity remained within lawful behaviour limits. Speakers there included independent senator Lidia Thorpe, who condemned violence while expressing solidarity with Palestinian civilians. She also acknowledged victims of the Bondi attack, calling for empathy across communities facing trauma and fear.

President Herzog’s visit includes several community and memorial events connected to antisemitism and recent Australian tragedies. He attended a major solidarity gathering at Sydney’s International Convention and Exhibition Centre during the protests. The event honoured victims of the Bondi massacre and raised funds for community recovery initiatives. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Prime Minister Scott Morrison were both present at the ceremony. Security around the venue was extremely tight, with armed units, mounted patrols, and restricted perimeter access.

During his remarks, Herzog linked recent violence to long-standing antisemitic hatred that predates the modern Israeli state. He argued that certain protest slogans encourage hostility and deny Israel’s right to exist as a nation. He said he arrived in goodwill and respects democratic debate, but rejects calls that question national legitimacy. Some activist groups have demanded legal action against him following a disputed UN commission interpretation of statements. Herzog has strongly rejected genocide allegations and described related legal cases as defamatory and politically motivated.

The phrase “globalise the intifada,” heard at several rallies, has triggered sharp political disagreement within New South Wales. The state government is considering restrictions when the phrase is used to incite hatred or violence. Free speech advocates warn that phrase bans require careful legal framing to avoid suppressing legitimate political expression. Community leaders fear that escalating rhetoric on all sides risks deepening social division and mistrust across multicultural cities. Faith groups have urged calm dialogue and mutual respect during a period of emotional and geopolitical strain.

Digital platforms played a significant role in building turnout for the Sydney protest and Melbourne gatherings. Organisers used social media networks, encrypted messaging groups, and livestreams to coordinate timing and messaging. Analysts say this rapid mobilisation model increases participation but also complicates real-time crowd management for authorities. Police planners now routinely monitor online signals to anticipate protest size, movement, and possible flashpoint locations. Rights groups counter that surveillance transparency and oversight must grow alongside expanded digital monitoring powers.

The Sydney protest has therefore become more than a single confrontation between officers and demonstrators downtown. It now sits at the centre of a broader debate about protest law, proportional policing, and political dissent. Legal observers expect court challenges if arrests or force decisions appear inconsistent with statutory protest protections. Government officials maintain that public safety duties remain paramount during periods of heightened threat and mass gathering. Further official statements and independent reviews are expected as verified evidence continues to emerge from multiple recordings.

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