Protests erupt in Australia against Israeli president’s visit

Large crowds turned out in several parts of Australia on Monday to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who has arrived on a multi-city tour of the country.

Herzog is in Australia this week after being invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14 last year, in which 15 people were killed. The visit is intended to show support for Australia’s Jewish community after the attack.

However, the trip has sparked strong opposition from sections of the public. Critics accuse the Israeli president of bearing responsibility for civilian casualties in Gaza and say his visit ignores the suffering of Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine groups called for demonstrations across cities and towns nationwide, with rallies held on Monday evening. In Sydney, thousands of protesters gathered in a central square in the business district, where speakers addressed the crowd and chants in support of Palestine echoed through the area.

One protester, Jackson Elliott, a 30-year-old Sydney resident, said the Bondi attack was tragic but criticised Australian leaders for what he described as silence on Palestinian suffering in Gaza. He accused Herzog of avoiding questions about the occupation and said the visit was being presented as a diplomatic engagement while ignoring the wider conflict.