Legal Observers NSW observed police at the Opera House in Sydney on 12 October from 1pm to 4pm. The Opera House set up barriers stopping entry into the forecourt except through metal detector scanners and with staff asking some of those entering to check their bags. Observers saw about 600-700 people searched by Opera House staff.

Approximately 70 police were station at the opera house, as well as two high-speed police boats and one general duty police boat. A NSW Police helicopter was deployed over Sydney CBD and flew over the Opera House on a few occasions.

Observers witnessed 3 individuals barred from entering the Opera House forecourt at different times on the basis of wearing either a kuffiyeh or items associated with Palestine and the genocide in Gaza. 

One person was wearing a kuffiyeh and a bracelet saying “free gaza” and was told by security he could not enter due to the Opera House bylaws and that the kuffiyeh “is part of the protest action”.

Another person was wearing a kuffiyeh and a shirt saying “genocide is never self defence” and was carrying a Palestine flag. He was barred from entering by security due to the Opera House bylaws. He then took his shirt off and put the flag and kuffiyeh away and was granted entry into the forecourt by security. However, about 2 minutes after entering the forecourt he was approached by about 30 police, and an officer told him that once he had been refused entry once he could not re-enter. He was then escorted out by police. See photo of shirt below.