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The NSW premier and a senior police officer have defended actions taken against protesters at Monday night's rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit.

Police say officers were "threatened, jostled and assaulted" during "a number of melees, rolling fights" and "violent behaviour".

Protest organiser Josh Lees said the violence could have been avoided if police allowed protesters to march and there was "sickening police brutality".

Link copiedShareShare articleThe NSW premier and a senior NSW Police officer have defended the actions of authorities during violent clashes with demonstrators at a protest in Sydney's CBD.

Twenty-seven people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting police, on Monday night at a demonstration against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia.

Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live moment.

That's it from the Greens and Josh Lees.

For more on this story head to the ABC News website.

Copy link36m agoTue 10 Feb 2026 at 12:02amMP 'lifted off the ground'Ms Boyd said she was standing near a group that was seen on social media praying at Town Hall when she says she was punched by police.

"I had this force on the right of me. I got lifted off the ground," she said.

"And then you can see in the video [that] as I'm trying to regain my balance another police officer punches me in the head.

"And then another one after that punches me in the shoulder. I don't understand how that is a proportionate response to anything."

Copy link41m agoMon 9 Feb 2026 at 11:57pmGreens MP says she was punchedGreens MP  Abigail Boyd says she was "punched" last night.

"My neck is OK," she said.

"I've got a very sore arm and shoulder where they punched me."

Copy linkShow morePolice estimated 6,000 people gathered at Town Hall for what organisers Palestine Action Group (PAG) said would be a peaceful rally.

At the conclusion of the speeches, the crowd assembled on George Street wanted to march to NSW Parliament despite the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) and Major Events Act making it unlawful to do so.

Protesters clashed with police in Sydney CBD. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)

Hundreds of police officers were on hand to respond to the protesters wanting to march. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)

Some in the crowd appeared to attempt to break through police blockades.

Do you know more? Contact ABC NEWS Verify.

At one stage, protesters were yelling "let us march", as police tried to disperse the crowd from the Town Hall precinct.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said officers were "threatened, jostled and assaulted" during "a number of melees, rolling fights" and "violent behaviour".

A number of videos appearing to show police officers punching protesters and officers confronting those at the rally were posted to social media.

Police said people had the opportunity to safely leave when asked. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said he was "very proud of the police officers" and stood by their actions in the face of "outrageous behaviour".

"I saw the restraint of police tonight. They took more than their time before they utilised any of their powers.

"It was really quite precarious at times for our officers, who were significantly outnumbered by the protesters and the people who wanted to act in a violent and offensive manner."

At a press conference this morning, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at the end of the speeches, an "angry and aggressive" group of demonstrators twice marched on police.

"The police did what they needed to do, which was to hold the line and then form and move the protesters back with a view dispersing them," he said.

“That was designed to keep the community safe. An angry and violent mob marching on police is not a situation I want our officers in.”

He said the body worn footage will be reviewed.

Premier Chris Minns told ABC Radio Sydney police did "everything possible" to avoid clashes through days of negotiations with PAG to have the protest and march at Hyde Park and down College Street.

He also defended the actions of officers on the ground, who he said needed to make tactical decisions in a "difficult situation".

"The circumstances are difficult for the police, who are trying to keep the public safe," Mr Minns said.

Police said melees and fighting broke out in the crowd. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)

When asked about a video appearing to show a man with his hands up being punched by officers, Mr Minns said all circumstances will be investigated and while some of the footage "doesn't look good" it needed to be kept in context.

"I think it's important that people not judge the actions of police on 10 seconds or 15 second social media clips," he said.

"It doesn't take into consideration the immediate situation prior to that confrontation."

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said police did a "good job under incredibly difficult circumstances".

"That volatile crowd, I've been told by police, is one they've not seen so aggressive before," she said.

PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said the violence could have been avoided if police allowed protesters to march and police actions were disproportionate.

"Of could this is not what I wanted to see, this sickening police brutality," he said.

Palestine Action Group leader Josh Lees talking with a police officer at the rally. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

He said police officers charged at those trying to leave and pepper-sprayed people on the ground.

Greens MP Sue Higginson, who was at last night's protest, called on the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to investigate the police response.

She said it was a "failed police operation" and saw the police turn on "peaceful people".

PAG has flagged another protest outside a Sydney police station for Tuesday.

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said speakers incited the crowd to march.

"It got to the point that I believe the crowd really took part in some type of contagion of groupthink, where we saw ordinary people who really took part in something that I don't think they would normally do," he told a late-night media conference on Monday.

NSW Police resources were on the ground and overhead for the rally. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Some protesters were restrained on the ground or removed from the area.

"They're [organisers] always very quick to say they don't want violence, they don't want conflict but when they're on microphones telling crowds to do the wrong thing, telling crowds to take on police, this is what happens," Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.

He said it was important to view videos of police interactions with protesters in the wider context.

"I can understand, one video in particular, it might even be offensive to people, but I will say this: please understand they are small videos being put up and I would say out of context of what was a rolling melee of violence and un-Australian and inappropriate behaviour tonight," he said.

Police on horseback patrolled the demonstration. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

He said none of the officers were seriously injured.

Labor upper house MP Stephen Lawrence was at the protest and recalled seeing attendees being punched and "assaulted" by police.

"I was actually standing right there. I was attempting to leave the protests at that point, but we were blocked off," he said.

"A woman started to scream at the police and then the next thing I saw was she looked like being assaulted by police.

"Then the police seemed to be punching that man in the white shirt."

Police officers used pepper spray on the crowd. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Paramedics treated a number of protesters after OC spray was deployed, but Assistant Commissioner McKenna said there were no reports of serious injuries.

Greens MP Jenny Leong, who was also at the protest, said people tried to disperse peacefully but were met by lines of "riot police".

"We pulled people into the shops, people who were red in the face and crying, having been sprayed this far away with tear gas with pepper spray," she said.

"We saw two or three lines of police running, chasing terrified community members as they bolted down Bathurst Street, coughing and spluttering, being sprayed by police."

Ms Boyd says she suffered neck injuries during the protest. (Supplied: Abigail Boyd)

Greens MP Abigail Boyd said she was "punched" last night and suffered a neck injury.

"My neck is OK," she said.

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said there was an event at the International Convention Centre nearby the protest where thousands of Jewish people and Mr Herzog were mourning the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

He said police had to make sure the protesters did not clash with attendees of the event and it took "hours" to clear the CBD.

"Sometimes we can't always come out and say our rationale behind why we do things operationally, but there's always a reason behind it."

Mr Lees said the protesters posed no threat to the event and wanted to march in the opposite direction.

Protesters gathered in opposition to the visit of the Israeli president over his alleged role in the war in Gaza. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Earlier in the day, three people were issued move on notices under the Major Events Act.

A NSW Police spokesperson said a 24-year-old man was spoken to by officers after climbing on an electrical box and yelling at a passing motorcade on Campbell Parade in Bondi Beach, where Mr Herzog had attended.

Two other people holding placards at the Bondi Pavilion event complied with move on notices.

ABC NEWS Verify is looking for video from last night's Sydney protest to forensically examine what went on, and to unpack the competing narratives between protesters and police. All vision is welcome — not just of controversial events but also of the lead up to, and aftermath of flashpoints.

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