Thousands rally in CBD during Israeli President’s Melbourne visit

Tens of thousands of protesters filled Melbourne’s CBD on February 12 as Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded his official visit to Australia, with large crowds gathering outside Flinders Street Station before marching to State Parliament.

Victoria Police estimated that up to 10,000 people assembled at Flinders Street before moving north along Swanston Street in a planned protest. Organisers claimed significantly higher numbers.

Flinders Street was temporarily blocked to trams and traffic as demonstrators rallied on the station steps, many carrying Palestinian flags and placards criticising the president’s visit. Protesters then marched to Parliament House, where speeches were delivered condemning the war in Gaza and calling for Australia to distance itself from Israel’s leadership.

A substantial police presence was deployed throughout the day, with officers lining key intersections and monitoring the march to ensure the safety of both participants and the broader community.

In a statement, Victoria Police said a “significant operation” had been conducted during the president’s visit.

“A large police presence monitored the protest activity to ensure the safety of the broader community and those involved,” police said.

One 39-year-old Coburg North man was field interviewed and later released pending summons for assaulting police. Authorities confirmed the officer involved was not physically injured.

“There were no other significant public order issues and people protested in a peaceful manner,” Victoria Police said.

The Supreme Court had granted police special powers ahead of the visit, allowing officers to search individuals and vehicles in designated areas near the president’s movements. However, police confirmed those powers were not used during the protest.

President Herzog’s final day in Melbourne included meetings with dignitaries at Government House and an afternoon community event in Southbank attended by political leaders and members of Victoria’s Jewish community.

Smaller demonstrations were also held near Government House and close to the Southbank venue, where police erected barricades and maintained road closures.

Despite the scale of the protest, the day passed without the kind of clashes seen interstate earlier in the week, with police and organisers both emphasising the largely peaceful nature of the rally.

The protest underscored the strong and deeply felt divisions within parts of the Melbourne community over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while highlighting the significant policing effort required during high-profile international visits.

Photography: Huda Shehzad.