NSW Police have launched legal action to oppose about 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters from marching to the steps of the Opera House.

The Palestine Action Group has requested permission to stage a protest march from Hyde Park to the Opera House on October 12, commemorating the second anniversary of Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza that followed Hamas’ assault on October 7, 2023.

Today, NSW Police has lodged an action at the Supreme Court to knock down the demonstration, citing public safety concerns.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna announced today that he instructed the Office of General Counsel to file an objection with the Supreme Court against holding this specific public gathering at the Opera House.

McKenna stressed police were not “anti-protest”.

He said the Opera House cannot facilitate 10,000 people, and feared the actual number of attendees on the day could be even greater.

McKenna clarified, “We are not opposed to the idea of them having a public gathering, nor is it solely about the location at the Opera House. Our primary concern is ensuring public safety during the event.”

He explained that the Opera House has specific development and engineering constraints that do not support the anticipated crowd size proposed in the application.

“They have to have an ability in an emergency to get people out of that location safely”.

In August, NSW Police attempted to stop the group’s planned protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge through the Supreme Court but were unsuccessful, finding themselves needing to organize arrangements for an unprecedented crowd ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 participants.

McKenna defended today’s court action despite their previous setback. 

“Each case in the Supreme Court is assessed on its own details, and each time we approach it, we carefully evaluate the specific circumstances of the matter at hand,” McKenna stated.

“The Sydney Harbour Bridge can take a lot more people than the forecourt of the Opera House.”

McKenna said NSW Police is still in discussions with the Palestine Action Group to negotiate an alternative route, but organisers have already promoted the protest on social media. 

Palestine Action Group is telling protesters to join them for their “next massive mobilisation” to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza. 

“On 12 October 2025, the Palestine Action Group will march on the Sydney Opera House, joining cities and towns across Australia to demand immediate sanctions on Israel and an end to the arms trade,” the group said on social media.

“The people of this country are united in saying: enough is enough.”

A pro-Palestine protest turned what police described as “violent and racist” at the Opera House forecourt in October 2023, after the landmark was lit up for Israel following Hamas’ terror attack.

The site has been used to protest against wars in the past.

In 2003, hundreds gathered and emblazoned “no war” on the sails to protest the Howard government’s involvement in the Iraq war.