Thousands gathered across Australia on Monday to protest the arrival of President Isaac Herzog, who is on a multi-city trip aimed at expressing solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community following a deadly mass shooting last year.

Herzog is visiting Australia this week at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the aftermath of the December 14 shooting at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15.

The visit has attracted the ire of some people in Australia, who accuse Herzog of being complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza. Pro-Palestine, anti-Israel groups organized protests in cities and towns across the country on Monday evening.

In Sydney, thousands gathered in a square in the city’s central business district, listening to speeches and shouting pro-Palestine, anti-Israel slogans. The rally later turned violent as police hit protesters and members of the media, including AFP, with pepper spray.

An AFP journalist said they saw at least 15 protesters being arrested and scuffling with police.

Crowds also gathered in the center of Melbourne demanding an end to Israel’s “occupation” of the Palestinian........

© The Times of Israel