Officers have attempted to control a large protests in Sydney and Melbourne.

The crowd in Sydney was ordered to disperse by police but many were seen yelling back as some attempted to scale barricades put in place to contain the demonstration.

The march had been headed towards state parliament but police told them ‘there will be no march’.

A number of people have been detained and there have been reports of police using pepper spray causing some attendees to vomit and ‘punching’ protesters.

NSW Police said it arrested 27 people during the protest in central Sydney.

‘A major police operation was conducted in Sydney’s CBD tonight with officers from across the metropolitan region assisted by specialist units,’ NSW Police said in a statement.

‘Thousands of participants gathered at Town Hall and at the conclusion of the speeches, the crowd assembled on George Street indicating an intention to march.

‘The crowd were issued a number of directions by police to disperse in accordance with the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration and Major Events Act.

‘When participants failed to comply, officers moved to disperse the crowd, including anyone who had stopped and was blocking pedestrian access.

‘A number of scuffles broke out with 27 people arrested, including 10 for assault police, and are being dealt with by officers.

‘Paramedics treated a number of participants after OC spray was deployed. There have not been any reports of serious injuries.

‘Further details regarding tonight’s operation will be provided when available.’

Victoria Police shared a statement following the protest in Melbourne.

‘Victoria Police were present at a planned protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Monday, 9 February,’ it said.

‘About 5,000 people gathered and marched from Flinders Street Railway Station to State Library, where some continued to Parliament.

‘A 20-year-old woman was arrested after she allegedly burnt two flags, causing minor fire damage to a tram stop near Parliament.

‘She was interviewed and released and is expected to be charged on summons with willful damage.’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been warmly welcomed at the Sydney International Convention Centre.

Thousands of attendees cheered and applauded him before he spoke at the event to remember the victims of the Bondi terror attack.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, the hero bystander who bravely grabbed the weapon from one of the gunman, will also speak.

NSW Police officers told protesters in Sydney: ‘There is no authorised march out of the square today – make your way home and disperse.

‘If you do not follow this direction you may be arrested.’

The large crowd responded by chanting ‘let us go’ and booing as officers attempted to direct people by blocking streets.

Some protesters were heard yelling ‘shame on you, Chris Minns’.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi took the mic at the Sydney protest, declaring: ‘Assalamualaikum (peace be upon you) – always was, always will be Aboriginal land’.

‘The only violence that has been perpetrated is by Minns police state,’ she said.

‘How dare does Chris Minns turn around and accuse us of clashes and violence – how dare he.

‘How dare they ask us to be respectful towards a president whose state is committing genocide and apartheid on Palestinians.

‘How dare they tell us to be mindful of the context when it is the very context of which we are protesting.’

She added the welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog received in Australia is ‘bull***t’ while protesters chanted ‘arrest Herzog’.

‘If Labor had a semblance of morality left in them, it is Herzog they should be arresting today,’ Faruqi said.

‘Labor has shown exactly who they are – Albanese and Wong have made a poor political calculation thinking they can appease the Israel lobby.

‘Albanese made the decision to invite Herzog here, Albanese chooses to shake the hands of a war criminal. Make no mistake, this is a normalisation.’

Former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, has spoken at the pro-Palestine rally outside Town Hall in Sydney.

‘What a backwards world it is when a so-called democracy silences and surveils academic research, art, music and sports and funds genocide,’ she said.

‘A so-called democracy that punishes peaceful protesters like ours but welcomes a war criminal with open arms.

‘What I want you to do after you leave here today is look around you – amongst your colleagues, amongst your friends and your family – and find as many people as you can who have not come to a protest and bring them along next time because we need everyone.

‘We have to continue to mobilise and we have to continue to globalise. Say it with me, from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada.’

The crowd chanted, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ as Tame spoke.

Protesters have displayed a terrifying scene of baby dolls covered in red paint as part of the rally against the genocide in Palestine.

While Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Sydney, the Melbourne rally included the disturbing dolls claiming Israel had bombed Palestinian children and demanded the Israeli president leave the country.

A network of groups protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza and arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Australia have planned 28 rallies across the country.

• Adelaide – 5.30 pm, Parliament House
• Albany – 5.30 pm, Anzac Peace Park
• Armidale – 6 pm, 225 Beardy St
• Ballarat – 5.30 pm, Sturt St
• Bathurst – 5.30 pm, Kings Parade
• Benalla – 5.30pm, Mair St
• Bendigo – 5.30 pm, Bendigo Sign
• Brisbane – 5.30 pm, King George Square
• Bunbury – 5pm, corner Clifton / Victoria St
• Cairns – 5.30pm, 204 Mulgrave Road
• Canberra – 5.30pm, Garema Place
• Coffs Harbour – 5.30pm, Pacific Highway
• Darwin – 5.30pm, Parliament
• Goulburn (- 5.30pm, The Big Merino
• Hobart – 11am, ABC Roundabout
• Kununurra – 5pm, Whitegum Park
• Launceston – 4pm, Jess Teesdale MP office
• Lawson – 5.30pm, Lawson Shops
• Lismore – 5.30pm, Peace Park
• Margaret River – 4pm, Reuther Park
• Melbourne – 5.30pm, Flinders Station
• Moss Vale – 5.30pm, Leighton Gardens
• Newcastle – 5.30pm, Newcastle City Hall
• Perth – 5.30pm, Forrest Place
• Sydney – 5.30pm, Sydney Town Hall
• Wagga Wagga – 5.30pm, Rural Place
• Wollongong – Blockade Bisalloy from February 8 to February 10
• Wyong – 4pm, Emma McBride MP office

Sydney’s central business district remains noticeably quieter than usual on Monday afternoon ahead of the protest.

Many corporate worker’s appear to have been allowed to leave work early amid concerns surrounding a planned pro‑Palestine rally at 5:30pm.

Although the Palestine Action Group failed in its attempt to overturn enhanced police powers granted for the event, the protest itself remains authorised to proceed.

A message sent out by the group appears to show they are proud at disrupting the CBD.