Upon landing in Sydney, Herzog and his wife were closely monitored by police, Israeli security forces, and snipers as they prepared to engage with Jewish communities following the Bondi terror incident.
A judicial decision blocked protesters from marching into the downtown area this evening, confining them to Town Hall instead.
Approximately 200 police officers were deployed around the Sydney gathering, where speakers vehemently criticized the Israeli president, labeling him a war criminal and denouncing Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza.
Over the next four days, about 30 additional rallies were expected to occur nationwide during Herzog’s visit.
NSW Supreme Court Justice Robertson Wright, less than 45 minutes before the Sydney demonstration was set to start, declared that the Palestinian Action Group’s challenge to police authority had been rejected.
“Arguments from both sides were compelling,” Justice Wright remarked.
“My conclusions have not been reached easily or lightly.”
Thousands of protesters would still show their opposition to Herzog despite being stopped from marching, Palestine Action Group spokesman Josh Lees said outside court.
“We’ve lost this case, but that does not affect what we’re doing tonight,” Lees said.
“What we’ve been saying this entire time is it’s entirely lawful for us to gather at Town Hall to hold a public assembly which is what we’ll be doing.”
Palestine Action Group was still seeking a compromise with NSW Police that would allow the activists to march from Town Hall to Parliament House, Lees said
Lawyers for the protesters told the court that the government’s declaration was too broad and did not meet legal requirements because no participants or geographic area were specified.
The NSW government declared Herzog’s visit a major event and used legislation normally reserved for large crowd events, which grants police the power to restrict access to certain areas or move people along without a reason.
Failure to comply with lawful police direction could result in fines of up to $5500 or exclusion from the major event area. 
The declaration, however, is not a ban on protests or marches, with police still aware of the demonstration planned to contest the visit of the controversial president.
“We are calling on police to allow our march to NSW Parliament, which they could easily do,” the group said in a statement earlier.
“But we are not seeking any confrontation, this will be a peaceful protest.”
When asked about the opposition to his visit, Herzog said demonstrations “undermine and delegitimise” Israel.
“It is important for me to say that I have come here in goodwill,” Herzog told media at Bondi Beach today.
Protesters in Melbourne today began a “week of action” against the Israeli president, who is due in the Victorian capital on Thursday.
As many as 10,000 activists were expected to descend on Flinders Street Station at 5.30pm today to protest Herzog’s Australian visit.
“We are horrified, we are appalled, and we are taking our action to the streets,” rally organiser Omar Hassan said.
“His visit as a head of state is not a political act, not a random mourner for Bondi, which we also mourn, he is a political representative of a state that has committed genocide according to the UN High Commission.
“So he is being treated as a political leader with the disrespect actually and the fury he deserves.”
Thousands of demonstrators blocked the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets as they marched towards the State Library of Victoria.
Protesters say they are furious that Herzog was invited to visit Australia, after a September 2025 UN inquiry found Herzog made comments which “may reasonably be interpreted as incitement” to target Palestinians in Gaza.
“We’re not intimidated. We’re going to keep coming out onto the streets and we’re going to tell Albanese and Herzog that the whole world knows they’re committing a genocide,” Lucy from teachers and School Staff for Palestine said.
Victoria Police confirmed it would have a “highly visible presence” through the CBD to ensure the protest remained peaceful.
“Victoria Police respects the right for people to protest lawfully, however we expect that they do so peacefully without impacting the broader community,” a spokesperson said.
“Police will be prepared to respond to any issues if needed.”
A pro-Palestine protest was also being held in Brisbane’s CBD, with marchers flooding King George Square.
