Since the beginning of October 2023, Legal Observers NSW has fielded observers at 19 weekly street rallies protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The policing of these rallies has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce ‘Operation Mealing’ and pro-Palestinian activity focused ‘Operation Shelter’.
The policing of these peaceful weekly protests has taken on an intimidatory and often violent character that has served to stoke tensions and increased the risk of harm to social cohesion. Several attendees have been assaulted by police and charged with offences on spurious grounds. The over-deployment of police has placed protestors at ongoing risk of police violence and intimidation.
Legal Observers NSW 