A powerful public rebuke to the Australian government has erupted after a full-page advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald called for the immediate withdrawal of an invitation to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia.
Published on Thursday 15 January, the advertisement, placed by Australians for Humanity, carried the signatures of more than 500 prominent Australians, including former senior public servants, diplomats, journalists, academics, faith leaders and human rights advocates.
Among them are John Menadue, former Labor minister Margaret Reynolds, journalist Mary Kostakidis and former ambassador Richard Broinowski. The signatories described the invitation as “immoral and wrong,” arguing that welcoming the head of a state accused of genocidal acts, mass civilian killings and ethnic cleansing is indefensible.
The advertisement comes amid growing unease within Labor ranks and broader civil society following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to extend the invitation in the wake of the Bondi tragedy. Despite mounting criticism and planned protests, the federal government has maintained that the visit remains “entirely appropriate” for a visiting head of state.
Community anger has also spilled onto the streets. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has condemned the invitation and organised major rallies, including a mass protest outside the State Library of Victoria on 11 January. APAN President Nasser Mashni said the visit “whitewashes Israeli atrocities” while Israel remains on trial before the International Court of Justice over allegations of genocide in Gaza.
APAN and other groups point to Herzog’s own public statements—widely cited in ICJ proceedings—claiming there are “no innocent civilians in Gaza” as evidence of genocidal intent. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have documented what they describe as systematic violations of international law.
Australia’s peak Muslim bodies have also issued strong statements. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils(AFIC) released an open letter to the Prime Minister urging reconsideration of the invitation, citing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Palestine and ongoing international legal proceedings.
AFIC explicitly reaffirmed its rejection of antisemitism and acknowledged the trauma felt by Jewish Australians after Bondi, stressing that these commitments are inseparable from advocating for Palestinian lives and dignity.
Similarly, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and the Australian Federation of Palestinian Organisations (AFOPA) have warned that welcoming Herzog risks deepening community divisions and eroding Australia’s credibility on human rights.
Critics have also raised alarm about proposed protest and speech restrictions, warning they could be used to suppress dissent during Herzog’s visit. Activists argue that shielding a foreign leader from public scrutiny through expanded police powers and protest bans represents a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms.
As outrage continues to build—from full-page newspaper ads to mass rallies and coordinated statements by faith and civil society organisations—the message from large sections of Australian society is unmistakable: Australia must not reward alleged war crimes with diplomatic honours, nor silence those demanding accountability under international law.
“On January 8, the Adelaide Festival board announced the cancellation of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance, stating that it would “not be culturally sensitive” to proceed following the Bondi Beach shooting in 2025.” It is important to note that Randa had no connection to the Bondi shooting.
In a separate incident, an Israeli writer criticised President Isaac Herzog for signing an artillery shell before it was fired towards the Gaza Strip, highlighting the potential danger to children in the area.
Given these circumstances, inviting Herzog to Australia would lack moral sensitivity in light of the ongoing genocide of Indigenous Palestinians.