Sydney Police Pepper Spray Thousands at Rally Against Israeli President Herzog's Visit
NSW police used pepper spray against protesters at a Sydney Town Hall rally opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit, arresting 27 people as thousands defied expanded police powers.
Feb 10, 2026, 01:08 AM
New South Wales police deployed pepper spray against demonstrators at a Sydney rally on Monday night, as an estimated 6,000 people gathered at Town Hall to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog's four-day visit to Australia . The clashes — which saw 27 arrests and allegations of brutality from both sides — have reignited a national debate over the balance between security powers and the right to political protest, particularly when those powers are drawn from legislation designed for sporting events rather than diplomatic visits NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
The confrontation marks the most significant test of NSW's expanded policing toolkit since the Bondi terror attack in December, and raises questions about whether emergency-style legislation is being normalised for use against political expression NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
A Legal Framework Under Strain
The NSW government declared Herzog's visit a major event under the Major Events Act on Saturday, granting police the power to search anyone within designated areas of the CBD and eastern suburbs, issue move-on orders, and close locations until Thursday NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday.. The legislation was originally designed for large-scale sporting events and concerts, not diplomatic visits.
The Palestine Action Group challenged the declaration in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday. Barrister Felicity Graham argued the government was using major event powers as a backdoor to curtail legitimate protest, pointing out that police had listed themselves as the promoter of the visit and classified protesters as spectators — categories borrowed from the act's sporting-event framework NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
Graham told the court the declaration was so broad that any person living in Sydney's eastern suburbs could be stopped and searched over the four-day period, regardless of whether they had any connection to the protest or the visit NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday.. She described it as a square peg being shoved into a round hole NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
The government's barrister, Brendan Lim SC, countered that the term event in the legislation was deliberately undefined and should be given broad meaning. He argued the powers were needed to secure the safety of the president, dignitaries, and the community in light of the national terrorism threat NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
Justice Robertson Wright dismissed the challenge, though he suggested the government's primary motivation may have been to separate opposing groups rather than to suppress protest outright — a distinction that may matter in future legal challenges to similar declarations NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
The Protest and Police Response
Despite the court ruling, thousands gathered at Town Hall on Monday evening. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame addressed the crowd, as did three NSW Labor backbenchers who defied Premier Minns to attend Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
When organisers attempted to negotiate permission to march, police refused. As demonstrators began moving toward NSW Parliament in defiance of the restriction, officers deployed pepper spray. People near the front ran back coughing and spluttering, pouring water over their eyes Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting officers. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna described rolling fights and violent behaviour, saying officers were threatened, jostled, and assaulted while significantly outnumbered Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit.. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said an angry and aggressive group twice marched on police lines Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Premier Chris Minns defended the response, saying officers had spent days negotiating with organisers to relocate the protest to Hyde Park. When asked about video footage appearing to show officers punching a man with his hands raised, Minns urged the public not to judge based on short social media clips, while acknowledging some footage did not look good Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Allegations of Brutality
Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees accused police of sickening brutality, saying officers charged at people trying to leave and pepper-sprayed individuals on the ground Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit.. Videos on social media appeared to show police moving on Muslim men during prayer Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Greens MP Sue Higginson, who attended the protest, called on the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to investigate what she described as a failed police operation in which officers turned on peaceful people Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit.. Police Commissioner Lanyon confirmed that body-worn camera footage would be reviewed Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Broader Context and Implications
Herzog's visit was arranged by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the December antisemitic shooting at Bondi, in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration. The visit was intended to foster unity, but has instead exposed deep divisions Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Some have called for Herzog's arrest following a finding by a UN commission that he, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, incited the commission of genocide — though the commission does not speak on behalf of the UN as a whole Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit.. Herzog has called the genocide case at the International Court of Justice a form of blood libel Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
Asked about the protests, Herzog said he had come in goodwill but characterised the demonstrations as attempts to undermine and delegitimise his nation's right to exist Pro-Palestine activists say NSW is using major event powers as a ‘backdoor way’ of banning Herzog proteststheguardian.com·SecondaryPalestine Action Group argued powers so broad anyone in Sydney CBD or eastern suburbs could be searched – even when Israeli president in Canberra or Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group has lost its legal challenge against sweeping powers handed to police by the Minns government for the duration of Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit..
The use of major event powers for a diplomatic visit sets a precedent that civil liberties advocates are likely to challenge again. Australia's protest landscape has shifted significantly since the Bondi attack, with successive restrictions narrowing the space for public assembly in ways that were previously associated with counter-terrorism operations rather than political speech. The Palestine Action Group has announced further protests outside a Sydney police station on Tuesday NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visittheguardian.com·SecondaryLidia Thorpe and Grace Tame address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streets New South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Protesters took to the streets around Australia to oppose Herzog’s four-day visit which began on Monday..
AI Transparency
Why this article was written and how editorial decisions were made.
Why This Topic
This story meets newsworthiness criteria on multiple levels: it involves the use of force by police against civilians exercising political expression, a legal challenge to expanded state powers that raises civil liberties questions, and the visit of a head of state facing genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice. The intersection of protest rights, counter-terrorism legislation, and international diplomacy makes this a significant story with implications beyond Australia. The scale of the protests — 6,000 in Sydney alone — and the political divisions within the governing party add further significance.
Source Selection
Both sources are from The Guardian Australia, a Tier 1 publication with established credibility in Australian political reporting. Signal [1] provides detailed court proceedings and legal arguments from the Supreme Court challenge, including direct quotes from barristers and the judge. Signal [2] covers the protest itself with on-the-ground reporting, police and government responses, and statements from protest organisers and political figures. While both sources are from the same outlet, they cover distinct aspects (legal challenge vs. protest events) and provide comprehensive factual grounding. Additional context from ABC News was used to supplement crowd size figures and police response details.
Editorial Decisions
This article covers the clash between police and protesters at Sydney Town Hall on February 9, 2026, during Israeli President Herzog's visit. We focused on presenting both the police/government defense of expanded powers and the protest organisers' allegations of brutality, avoiding taking sides on the underlying Israel-Palestine conflict. We excluded detailed discussion of the Bondi terror attack itself beyond contextual references, as it is a separate story. The UN commission finding is mentioned for context but not editorialised. Coverage of Melbourne protests is included but kept proportional to the Sydney focus. Social media footage allegations are attributed to sources rather than presented as verified fact.
Reader Ratings
About the Author
Sources
- 1.theguardian.comSecondary
- 2.theguardian.comSecondary
Editorial Reviews
1 approved · 0 rejectedPrevious Draft Feedback (3)
• depth_and_context scored 4/3 minimum: The article situates the incident within broader legal and political context — the Major Events Act, the Bondi attack, court challenge, and wider civil liberties concerns — giving readers useful background; it could do more on the Act's history, precedents, and statistics to reach excellence. • narrative_structure scored 4/3 minimum: There is a clear lede and logical sectioning (legal framework, protest, allegations, broader context) that guides the reader; the piece could tighten its nut graf and end with a stronger, more focused closing sentence rather than a general statement about future protests. • perspective_diversity scored 4/3 minimum: The draft quotes multiple actors — police, government lawyers, protesters, MPs, and civil liberties advocates — offering balanced viewpoints; it lacks voices from independent legal experts, bystanders, or victims that would deepen representation. • analytical_value scored 3/2 minimum: The article raises implications about normalising emergency powers and civil liberties erosion, but analysis is mostly implied rather than developed; more explicit examination of legal thresholds, likely court outcomes, or comparative examples would strengthen forward-looking insight. • filler_and_redundancy scored 4/3 minimum: The draft is economical and avoids obvious repetition; a few sentences restate similar points about policing powers and brutality allegations, but overall there is little padding. • language_and_clarity scored 4/3 minimum: Writing is generally clear and precise with minimal jargon; political labels (e.g., references to genocide allegations) are attributed and contextualised, though one or two sentences could be tightened for concision and to avoid passive constructions. Warnings: • [source_diversity] Single-source story — consider adding corroborating sources • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 4 (borderline): The piece reads like a near-finished news article with proper structure and sourcing markers; it would benefit from a stronger closing line, attribution for critical claims (court ruling detail), and proofreading for small stylistic tightening before publication.
1 gate errors: • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 3/4 minimum: The piece reads like a near-finished story with adequate sourcing markers, but structural polish is needed (stronger nut graf/closing, smoother transitions) and attribution could be tightened for publication style.
1 gate errors: • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 3/4 minimum: The piece is near-ready but reads like a wire copy: it needs a stronger lede/nut graf, a closing paragraph, sourcing cleaned (remove bracketed source markers if not standard), and minor copy-editing for flow before publication.
Discussion (0)
No comments yet.