Full Breakdown
Police Response to October 9, 2023 Sydney Protest Scrutinized by Royal Commission
8/4/2026, 11:27:20 AM
Core Event
On October 9, 2023 a pro-Palestinian rally organized by the Palestine Action Group marched from Town Hall to the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House. Approximately 700 participants gathered, some chanting “Where’s the Jews?” and launching a flare over police officers. Two individuals carrying Israeli flags were arrested for breach of the peace and issued move-on notices. The protest occurred two days after the Hamas attack on Israel that began on October 7, 2023.
Background & Context
The rally was called on October 7, the same evening Israeli civilians were killed and taken hostage in the Hamas assault. Organizers said the event was to express solidarity with Palestinians, while the Jewish community planned a blue-and-white illumination of the Opera House and a vigil on the evening of October 9.
Data & Statistics
- Attendance: about 700 people.
- Arrests: two people wearing Israeli flags were detained.
- Chants & Actions: witnesses reported slogans such as “Where’s the Jews?” and “f*** the Jews,” and an Israeli flag was set on fire. A forensic review of 200 hours of CCTV footage found no evidence of the chant “gas the Jews”.
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy Commissioner McKenna said the flare and large crowds were amplified by media coverage but did not constitute a public-safety failure. He also acknowledged a “human error” in failing to inform the Jewish community ahead of a later neo-Nazi rally on November 8, 2025, and apologized for the communication breakdown.
Commissioner Virginia Bell warned that line-of-questioning outside the commission’s remit would be ruled inadmissible, though she had not yet made such a ruling.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Chant Evidence: Some witnesses described anti-Jewish slogans, but the commission’s CCTV analysis could not confirm the alleged “gas the Jews” chant.
- Timeline of Israeli Response: Counsel for the Palestine Action Group noted that Israeli Defence Force air strikes began around 5:30 pm Sydney time on October 7, questioning whether the protest’s timing was “necessary” given the ongoing conflict.
- Protest Composition: Counsel argued that later arrivals at the Opera House were not part of the original Town Hall rally and that organizers had condemned those individuals.
Why It Matters
The commission’s examination highlights tensions between public-order policing and community safety during highly charged protests. The advice given to the Jewish community and the acknowledged communication lapse raise questions about how authorities balance the right to public assembly with protection of vulnerable groups. The findings may influence future police protocols for managing protests that intersect with ethnic or religious sensitivities.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was effectively police transferring control of the CBD to the protesters,” — David Ossip, of deputies president
- “We agonised over whether to put out a statement,” — David Ossip, of deputies president
- “I'm not talking about the intention behind it or how it might make the Jewish community feel.” — Deputy Commissioner McKenna, acting deputy commissioner
- “It's one of those ones where … whilst some things are abhorrent and offensive, if they don't meet the threshold of breaching the law, then we fall back to the fact that people have a right to public assembly.” — Deputy Commissioner McKenna, acting deputy commissioner
- “There was some intelligence that that may occur," Deputy Commissioner McKenna said.” — Deputy Commissioner McKenna, acting deputy commissioner
- “It took months for the lawyers to agree that it probably was an offence,” — Peter McKenna, acting deputy commissioner
