Thousands of protesters gathered Monday in Melbourne to oppose Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, chanting slogans such as “Herzog out” and “Palestine will be free.” Pro-Palestinian groups have announced further demonstrations nationwide.
Protesters denounced Herzog and Israel with chants like “Herzog is a terrorist,” “Globalize the Intifada,” and “There is only one solution: intifada revolution.”
They also shouted slogans such as “Israel no more, Israel is a terror state,” “Liberation, liberation, Palestine is our nation,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Herzog was invited by the federal government following the December Bondi attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the visit was intended to promote national unity.
Herzog arrived Sunday to begin his official visit. Authorities declared the event major and deployed thousands of police officers to manage crowds.
One protest organizer told cheering crowds: “We mourn the people of Bondi, and we mourn the people of Gaza. Our government does not. We are not the hypocrites, they are.”
Senator Lidia Thorpe spoke at the protest, showing solidarity with both the Bondi Beach attack victims and Palestinians. She said, “I stand in solidarity with the victims in Bondi, but also with my Palestinian brothers and sisters, and that’s not antisemitic. Why do our leaders stand with someone who signs bombs that kill innocent people?”
The Melbourne protest is expected to continue all day and is part of a wider series of demonstrations across Australia during Herzog’s four-day visit, which includes Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Bondi Beach.
Calls have increased in Australia to rescind Herzog’s invitation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted by the ICC for war crimes, and Herzog has supported accusations of genocide committed by Israel.
In October 2023, Herzog said Palestinians in Gaza were “unequivocally” responsible for the 7 October resistance operation. “It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved,” he said—remarks condemned as genocidal.
These statements are cited in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
During a 2025 Gaza visit, Herzog repeated Israel’s claim it was not responsible for starvation in Gaza.
Speaking at Davos last year, Herzog said it was “not realistic at all” to expect Israel to withdraw from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, adding it “doesn’t make sense” to settlers.
In late 2023, Herzog was photographed signing an Israeli artillery shell to be fired into Gaza, writing in Hebrew: “I rely on you.”
Despite opposition, Albanese welcomed Herzog’s visit.
Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti called it a “crazy idea.” In 2025, Sidoti, one of three UN-appointed experts, concluded Herzog, Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant had incited genocide in Gaza.
“This is one of the most divisive figures in the world. Bringing him to Australia will undermine social cohesion, not rebuild it,” Sidoti said. “It will increase division, not bring about national unity.”
The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ), Al-Haq, and Al Mezan said they had alerted the AFP about serious allegations of genocide incitement by Herzog during Israel’s assault on Gaza since 7 October 2023.
The groups included a 10-page submission detailing the charges and Australia’s legal obligations.
“Where credible international findings indicate incitement to genocide and where domestic accountability has not occurred, Australia has both the legal authority and responsibility to act,” said Rawan Arraf of ACIJ.
Arraf added the government is showing a “blatant disregard” for international legal duties by allowing Herzog to enter Australia without an AFP investigation.
“At a time when the federal government is criminalizing hate speech, someone who allegedly incited genocide must not enter Australia without accountability,” she said.
Shawan Jabarin, director of Al-Haq, emphasized that Herzog claimed there were “no uninvolved civilians in Gaza,” while serving as head of state during the deaths of 23,000 children and 1,000 babies “before their first birthday.”
“Even the IVF clinic was bombed, destroying 4,000 human embryos and hope for future life,” Jabarin said, urging Australia to arrest and try Herzog.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) condemned the invitation, calling it a “grave moral failure” and “direct insult” to those protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Labor Friends of Palestine wrote to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to deny Herzog a visa. The letter signed by Peter Moss, Wendy Turner, and Oliver van Ingen questioned whether the character test was applied.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi earlier criticized the government for “welcoming the president of a state committing ongoing genocide.”
Sophie Scamps, MP for Mackellar, added: “After Bondi, the focus should be on safety and security of the Jewish community. Inviting a divisive figure, even a head of state, invites division.”
“A foreign head of state found to have incited genocide deeply risks dividing Australian society.”
“In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, this visit risks raising tensions and divisions, when the government’s priority should be unity and safety for all,” she concluded.
