On Monday, thousands of Australians gathered nationwide to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who came to the country to show solidarity with the local Jewish community after a tragic shooting in December. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, had invited Herzog following an incident where 15 people were killed at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach, Sydney. While the intent of the visit was to demonstrate support, the backdrop of rising tensions regarding Israel's actions in Palestine added complexity to this diplomatic engagement.

The protests were fueled by anger towards Herzog's presence, as many demonstrators accused him of complicity in the situation in Gaza. Earlier in January, Israeli authorities acknowledged that their military operations had resulted in the deaths of approximately 25,000 Palestinian civilians over a two-year conflict. This acknowledgment intensified the sentiments against the Israeli leadership and their policies, making the visit a contentious one amid an already charged atmosphere surrounding Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Pro-Palestine groups organized protests across several Australian cities, highlighting their discontent with Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. In Melbourne, central protests demanded an end to this occupation, while in Sydney, thousands gathered in a central square to voice their dissent against Israeli policies. This visit illustrates the ongoing debate within Australia regarding the nation's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reveals the deep divisions in public opinion regarding foreign policy related to the Middle East.