Standoff over site of rally against Israeli president as protest group prepares court challenge to NSW police powers | New South Wales politics

Protesters planning to march in Sydney’s CBD during Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit are being urged to choose an alternative route as the Palestine Action Group prepares to challenge the prime minister’s use of special force ahead of the rally.

New South Wales police acting deputy commissioner Paul Dunstan told reporters on Sunday that discussions were ongoing with Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group about the location of Monday night’s march.

The group plans to march from city hall to the state parliament, in violation of a public gathering restriction declaration submitted by police on Tuesday.

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The extension prevents protests from being permitted under the form 1 system, effectively banning marches in designated areas without risk of arrest. The current designated area includes the town hall and covers the northern part of the CBD and eastern suburbs, but does not include Hyde Park.

Dunstan urged the group to move to Hyde Park and march to Belmore Park instead, saying this would “safely facilitate a peaceful protest on the streets of Sydney”.

“I have concerns about the size of City Hall and the potential for overflow into public spaces that could lead to conflict between police and protesters,” he said.

“Therefore, I would ask them to consider relocating and continue negotiations with us.”

Dunstan emphasized that Lees had “gone to great lengths to outline the intention and desire for a peaceful and safe protest”.

Premier Chris Minns said the alternative route would “significantly reduce tensions in the city”.

“This would be a clear way to show that protests could happen… but it would also be a respectful way to ensure that residents of the city mourning the worst terrorist incident in the country’s history are not subjected to a conflict on the city’s streets,” he said at a separate news conference on Sunday.

“So far this opportunity has not been taken, but NSW police will continue to negotiate with the protest organizers until the last moment and we hope common sense will prevail.”

Minns invoked the state’s “major incident” law on Saturday, giving police additional powers to remove people, close certain places and issue orders to prevent disruptions or risks to public safety. Those who fail to comply with police instructions may face penalties, including fines of up to $5,500.

Lees confirmed on Sunday that the Palestine Action Group would urgently file a lawsuit in the NSW supreme court on Monday to challenge Minns’ use of powers that he said “threatened the civil liberties of everyone in NSW”.

“We are taking Chris Minns back to court. He has implemented extensive searches, exclusions and behavioral restrictions in our city in an attempt to silence dissidents,” he said.

“The declaration gives police unprecedented powers in central Sydney for the duration of the visit and effectively criminalizes political expression and assembly.

“These laws are designed to intimidate people and deter them from speaking out against war crimes and injustices.

“Rather than defending human rights, the NSW government is using emergency-style powers to shield a visiting head of state from public scrutiny and accountability.”

A separate legal challenge by the group against NSW’s anti-protest laws following the Bondi attack is also ongoing.

When asked about the potential challenge, Dunstan said it was a matter for the government, not the police.

He said more than 3,000 police officers would be deployed across Sydney during Herzog’s visit and people could expect convoys, crossing areas, fencing and barriers to be installed in the CBD over the next few days.

“You will see additional numbers with the tensions associated with this visit, but people should feel confident that they can conduct business as normal over the next few days,” Dunstan said.

He also advised that those planning to arrive in the city from 5.30pm should be aware of significant police action and potential protest activities.

“We don’t want conflict. We want to make sure this is conducted peacefully and safely, and I’m confident we can achieve that by working with the Palestine Action Group,” Dunstan said.

Minns called for “respect and tranquility as we get through the next four days.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited Herzog after the anti-Semitic attack on Bondi on December 14 and said the aim of his visit was to promote “a greater sense of unity”. Major Jewish organizations and federal and state governments welcomed Herzog’s visit as a pivotal moment.

Other groups, including some Australian Jewish organizations, say the Israeli president should be banned from entering the country. They claim he incited genocide against Palestinians, pointing to the UN commission, which does not speak on behalf of the UN and concluded in September 2025 that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and that Herzog, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant “instigated the genocide commission.”

Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the commission’s report, calling it “distorted and inaccurate” and claiming it was “based entirely on Hamas’ lies.”

Palestinian Australian Raneem Emad, who plans to protest Herzog’s visit on Monday, said the visit felt “like a slap in the face.”

“Many of us have lost dozens, if not dozens, of family members in Gaza, and no one understands this feeling like another Palestinian mother or anyone else who has unfortunately faced such a traumatic loss,” she said.