• Israeli President Isaac Herzog lays a wreath at Bondi Beach to honor victims of a mass shooting.
• Protests against Herzog's visit are organized across Australia, citing concerns about Gaza.
• High police presence and special powers granted to manage protests during the state visit.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog's official visit to Australia commenced amidst intense security measures and calls for protests from pro-Palestinian and human rights groups. Herzog laid a wreath at Bondi Beach, memorializing 15 victims of a 2025 mass shooting linked to a Hanukkah celebration, addressing the media with comments about antisemitism being a "global emergency," according to BBC and Anadolu Agency.

Protests erupted in cities across Australia as thousands voiced their opposition to Herzog's visit, denouncing his perceived role in civilian casualties in Gaza. During the protests, many lamented the Australian government's silence on Palestinian suffering. Jackson Elliott, a protester from Sydney, emphasized, "The Bondi massacre was terrible but from our Australian leadership there’s been no acknowledgment of the Palestinian people," according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.

The New South Wales state government declared Herzog's visit a "major event," granting police enhanced powers to manage crowds, including the authority to restrict movements and enforce area closures during the protests. Over 3,000 police officers were deployed in Sydney to maintain order, as protest groups refused to alter their planned routes, indicating a tense atmosphere leading to Herzog's arrival, as reported by BBC, Anadolu Agency, and South China Morning Post.

While some Jewish organizations, such as the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, welcomed the visit as a means of uplifting the Jewish community after the tragic Bondi shooting, other groups, including the Jewish Council of Australia, published an open letter signed by over 1,000 members urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to rescind Herzog's invitation. These divided opinions highlight the contentious nature of Herzog's visit and the strong emotions it has elicited within the community, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.