Violent clashes broke out in Sydney, Australia, between security forces and demonstrators protesting the official visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing foreign media, police detained 27 individuals following a confrontation near Sydney Town Hall. The unrest began as law enforcement attempted to disperse thousands of protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the diplomatic visit. Among those detained, 10 individuals face charges for allegedly assaulting police officers.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his deep concern over the violence, urging citizens to express their views peacefully. In an interview with Triple M radio, he emphasized the need for social cohesion.
"Australians do not want to see international conflicts imported into our country. Whether they are Israeli or Palestinian, everyone wants the killing to stop. However, such violent scenes serve no purpose and only damage the process," the Prime Minister stated.
The visit of President Herzog comes at a sensitive time for the city, following a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in December that resulted in 15 fatalities. Due to the heightened security environment, police were granted rare special powers, including the authority to direct crowds and conduct vehicle searches. A legal challenge filed by the Palestine Action Group against these restrictive measures was recently dismissed by the courts.
Footage from the scene showed police utilizing tear gas and pepper spray to manage the crowd. Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, defended the actions of law enforcement, noting that officers were forced to make difficult decisions under high-pressure circumstances. Conversely, protest organizers have accused the police of using excessive force and vowed to continue their demonstrations. Diplomatic visits of this nature often draw significant public attention in Australia, reflecting the country's diverse demographic landscape and its active engagement in international geopolitical discourse.
