Large crowds gathered in several Australian cities as public demonstrations unfolded alongside the visit of Israel’s president, turning the trip into a focal point for nationwide dissent. In Canberra, protesters assembled near Parliament House, holding Palestinian flags and placards condemning the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza. The rallies reflected a sustained mobilisation rather than a single-day event, with participants remaining in place for hours.

In Melbourne, demonstrators marched through the city centre, while in Sydney thousands converged with the intention of moving towards key civic sites. Police blocked parts of the route and detained a number of protesters, actions that quickly circulated online and triggered sharp public discussion. The images added to growing scrutiny of how authorities respond to large-scale political demonstrations linked to international crises.

The visit, the first by an Israeli head of state to Australia in several years, was intended as a diplomatic engagement but instead unfolded against a backdrop of widespread anger over Gaza. Protesters framed their presence as a response to mass civilian deaths, the destruction of infrastructure, and the continued detention of Palestinian prisoners. For many, the demonstrations were presented as an act of civic responsibility, aimed at forcing accountability and keeping international attention fixed on the human cost of the genocidal war.