New South Wales Police have released images of three men they want to speak to after a brawl broke out during a pro‑Palestine paddle‑out at Bondi Beach, authorities said Monday as an investigation into the unauthorised demonstration continued.
Police said they were called to Bondi Beach early Sunday after reports of an unauthorised protest and that, by midmorning, tensions between pro‑Palestine activists and counter‑protesters had escalated into violent confrontations that required officers to intervene.
"About 8am on Sunday, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended Bondi Beach in response to an unauthorised protest," a NSW Police statement said. The demonstration, organised by a group called Jews Against the Occupation, drew participants to the sand for a paddle‑out scheduled to begin at about 10 a.m. Counter‑protesters gathered on the steps leading to the beach, some waving Australian and Israeli flags, police and witnesses said.
Footage circulating online showed scuffles between the two groups and officers moving to hold back counter‑protesters. One officer was heard shouting, "Stop," as the clashes unfolded. Witnesses recorded verbal exchanges between demonstrators, including one man telling the pro‑Palestinian activists to "go back to Lakemba" and a woman saying, "This is our land... We don't come to Lakemba, don't come to Bondi." Police said they were appealing for public assistance and encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
On Monday night, police released still images of three men they believe may be able to assist with inquiries into the incident. Investigators have not said whether any arrests have been made and described their work as ongoing.
Organisers of the paddle‑out, Jews Against the Occupation, said the demonstration was peaceful and argued that pro‑Israel groups could not fairly claim Bondi as their "backyard." The decision to hold the event at Bondi drew criticism in the lead‑up to the gathering from local and community leaders.
The Australian Jewish Association described the location as provocative because of Bondi's large Jewish population. AJA chief executive Robert Gregory said the planned rally had raised tensions in the area. Waverley Council Mayor Will Nemesh said the council had received no permission for the demonstration under its events policy and called the rally "highly provocative," noting it coincided with Father's Day. He said he had written to police and local members of Parliament seeking action to prevent the gathering.
Police urged anyone with footage or information about the brawl to contact Crime Stoppers. The release of the images is part of an evidence‑gathering effort as officers examine the circumstances that led to the clashes and assess whether further criminal charges are warranted.