A 19-year-old Australian teenager has been charged with making online threats against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose visit to Australia on February 5, 2026, has sparked controversy and protests. The charges stem from alleged threats made on a social media platform last month, directed at a foreign head of state and internationally protected individual. The teenager, who was denied police bail, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail if convicted. Herzog's visit, prompted by the December shooting of 15 people at a Jewish festival in Sydney, has drawn strong opposition from pro-Palestine groups and those opposing Israel's actions in Gaza. Protests are planned in over two dozen Australian cities, with some calling for Herzog's invitation to be revoked. Australian and Palestinian legal groups have called for a police investigation into Herzog's alleged role in war crimes in Gaza, while Greens party senator David Shoebridge has urged the Albanese government to withdraw the invitation, citing Herzog's involvement in the 'genocide in Gaza'. The NSW Police Commissioner has announced restrictions on protests, acknowledging the 'significant animosity' surrounding the visit.
