Another protest planned in Sydney TONIGHT just hours after police clash with pro-Palestine crowd

Pro-Palestine protesters will rally for a second consecutive night, just hours after violent clashes with police and dozens of arrests.

Thousands gathered at demonstrations across the nation on Monday night to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s arrival in Australia for a four-day visit.

Mr Herzog, whose prior comments a UN inquiry found might reasonably have been interpreted as inciting genocide against Palestinians, was invited to Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of December’s Bondi massacre.

The biggest protest outside Sydney Town Hall descended into wild scenes after rallygoers were pepper-sprayed and police were filmed throwing punches.

One video shared on social media shows a group of Muslim men praying before being ripped from their knees and taken away by police, while another showed a man with raised hands being repeatedly punched in the stomach by officers.

Police later confirmed that 27 protesters were arrested, including 10 who allegedly assaulted officers.

As NSW Police bosses and Premier Chris Minns spent Tuesday morning defending the actions of officers, the Palestine Action Group announced that a rally will be held outside Surry Hills Police Station from 5.30pm in response to Monday night’s alleged ‘police brutality.’

Protesters will also call for Minns’ resignation and the arrest of Herzog.

Genocide is a crime, protest is not. Be there tonight to stand up against Minns’ police state, demand all charges be dropped, and demand accountability and charges be laid against police for their actions against peaceful protestors last night,’ a social media post states.

Protest organiser Josh Lees slammed Monday night’s scenes as a sickening display of police brutality, claiming that protesters were met with violence at the ‘peaceful’ demonstration.

‘This was a violent attack on protesters, in order to roll the carpet out for someone who has incited a genocide in Gaza,’ he said.

‘Last night is exactly a result of the ramping up and up and up of police powers in this state of the crazy authoritarian announcements made by Chris Minns, and he clearly wanted us out of sight, out of mind, and that’s why we refused to go to Hyde Park.

‘I’ve been to many protests over the years, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen, where the police were absolutely off the chain.’

Lees hit back at Minns’ suggestions that the protesters posed a threat to Jewish mourners gathered at the nearby International Convention Centre, where Herzog was a keynote speaker.

‘There is no justification for last night whatsoever – Chris Minns is seemingly trying to bring a bit of Donald Trump’s America to Sydney,’ he said.

‘That cannot be allowed. We will not stand for it.’

‘We need to stand up against this kind of authoritarianism, this crackdown on protesters and unleashing in violence.

‘There needs to be an investigation into the police brutality.’

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon warned that protesters will be met with a ‘significant police presence’ but hopes there is no repeat of Monday night’s ugly scenes.

‘There’s no difference to the approach to police. When protesters go, act lawfully, act peacefully, there will be no problem,’ he told reporters.

‘It will be the actions of protesters that determines what happens’

The violent clashes left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heartbroken.

‘I’m devastated by these scenes, these are really scenes that I think shouldn’t be taking place,’ he told radio station Triple M.

‘The causes are not advanced by these sort of scenes – indeed they’re undermined.’

Albanese issued this plea to those opposed to Herzog’s visit.

‘People will have different views about the Middle East and we have been critical and have received some criticism from the Israeli government,’ he said. 

‘But we do need to be able to have people express any views peacefully in an appropriate way.’