The arrests of almost 20 pro-Palestinian protesters at a rally against an Israeli shipping company have been condemned as an attack on democracy but the NSW premier is backing the police action.
The protest at Port Botany in Sydney's east was held on Sunday night with Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) activists saying it was a "peaceful community assembly" at one of the terminals.
Hundreds of protesters, including federal Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, took part, demanding state and federal governments prohibit Israeli company ZIM from entering Australian ports and implement broader sanctions on Israel.