Lawyer says police footage from Sydney Town Hall Herzog protest shows degrading treatment and unlawful force

Summary

Video from a 9 February rally at Sydney Town Hall against visiting Israeli president Isaac Herzog shows police grabbing protesters by the head or neck, according to a lawyer who says the treatment is degrading. Bodycam footage leaked in September and aired in a Sydney court shows an officer shoving a protester before boasting 'I punched him in the head when he was down'. Lawyer Nick Hanna argues the footage depicts unlawful use of force by that officer.

Timeline

1. ABC

   19 Oct 2026, 21:33 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that a lawyer says video from the Town Hall protest shows 'degrading' police treatment, with clips showing police grabbing protesters by the head or neck at a rally against the Israeli president in Sydney.

2. The Guardian

   20 Oct 2026, 05:59 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that bodycam footage of police at a 9 February Sydney Town Hall rally against Isaac Herzog, leaked in September and aired in a Sydney court, shows an officer shoving a protester before boasting 'I punched him in the head when he was down'; lawyer Nick Hanna calls it unlawful use of force.