In Sydney, New South Wales police confronted protesters opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit, using pepper spray as tensions escalated during the rally. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near Town Hall, defying a controversial state law designed to prevent such gatherings following security concerns after a recent terror incident. The protest featured notable speakers, including Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who rallied the crowd against the visit and the law restricting peaceful assembly.

The rally was part of a larger wave of demonstrations across Australia, with thousands also protesting in Melbourne. Similar confrontations occurred there, as police used pepper spray on at least one protester amidst the chaos of demonstrators trying to march against the law and Herzog's presence in the country. The event revealed deep-seated frustrations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Australia’s foreign policy, but also raised questions about the balance between public safety and the right to protest.

As the protests unfolded, a group of NSW Labor backbenchers joined the demonstrators, showing a split within the state's political party concerning the handling of protests and the government's response to Herzog's visit. Organizers attempted to negotiate with police but were met with resistance as they sought to carry on with their plans to march, highlighting ongoing tensions between demonstrators advocating for their rights and law enforcement enforcing new regulations under a state law aimed at maintaining security.