The Palestine Action Group plans to hold a protest march against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney on 9 February. This comes despite the New South Wales police commissioner extending protest restrictions for 14 days. The group's spokesperson, Josh Lees, urged the police to “exercise their discretion” and allow a peaceful march from Town Hall to state parliament. NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon said the restriction extension is due to security concerns tied to Herzog's visit. The restriction bans protest authorisation in key areas, including Town Hall, under the form 1 system. This system limits protests following the Bondi terror attack and is currently under constitutional review. Lanyon stated, “We’re still less than two months from what is the worst terrorist incident in New South Wales history today.” He added, “There remains a significant risk to community safety by public assemblies.” The extended ban prevents the planned march route and reflects concerns about at least 10 antisemitic incidents under investigation. Josh Lees noted that many pro-Palestine rallies over the past two years have been peaceful. He said, “Things will go much more smoothly if the police work with us to facilitate a peaceful march.” He also stressed, “People should have the right to march against someone who has incited genocide.” A 2025 UN commission accused Israeli leaders, including Herzog, of inciting genocide in Gaza, a claim strongly rejected by Israel’s foreign ministry. Herzog called the genocide case a “form of blood libel” and defended Israel’s position on the 7 October attacks. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed he had numerous meetings with Commissioner Lanyon about Herzog’s visit but denied influencing the protest ban. “There’s a need to protect both the president as an invited guest to Australia and also regular Australians as they go about their jobs and their lives in Sydney next week,” Minns said.