Australian police have defended their actions after violently clashing with protesters during a demonstration against a visit by the Israeli president.
Video emerged of police charging and punching protesters during the rally in Sydney on Monday night, with a state parliament MP among those who said they were injured in the clashes. Police said 27 people were arrested, with nine later charged, and 10 officers assaulted.
Officers showed 'remarkable restraint', said NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, adding they 'did what they needed to do'. Earlier, rally organisers had failed in their court bid to overturn police powers limiting their right to demonstrate during Isaac Herzog's visit.
The government invited Herzog to visit Australia following an antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, citing it as a chance to help the Jewish community heal, despite objections from pro-Palestinian groups. Fifteen people, including a ten-year-old girl, were killed on 14 December after gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration.
Protests occurred outside Sydney's Town Hall with attendance figures disputed, with police estimating 6,000 while organizers claimed 50,000. Video footage showed confrontations between police and protesters, including officers punching attendees and dragging away Muslim men who were praying.
Activists have condemned the police's response, stating the violence was the 'worst' seen in recent years. NSW Premier Chris Minns stated the police were in an 'impossible situation', urging citizens to consider the full context of the events rather than brief clips of the altercation.
Restrictive measures on public protest had been introduced in NSW after the December shooting, allowing demonstrations to occur but forbidding marching. Pro-Palestinian groups criticized Herzog's invitation, pointing to accusations from a UN commission alleging his complicity in inciting genocidal rhetoric against Palestinians.
As the unrest continues, further protests are scheduled, with calls for not only the dropping of charges against demonstrators but also inquiries into police conduct during the clashes.
