Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says NSW Police should provide a "full explanation" after officers dragged away Muslim worshippers praying at a Sydney protest opposing the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Speaking on The Sydney Morning Herald's Inside Politics podcast, Albanese said he was concerned by the incident outside Sydney's Town Hall on Monday evening.
"I'm concerned at the great deal of hurt which the Muslim community are feeling about the disruption of prayers," he said.
"I think that is something that needs a full explanation. I know that that has caused a great deal of distress."
More than 100 Muslim organisations issued a joint statement condemning the incident as "completely unacceptable" and calling for a public apology and an investigation after footage emerged showing officers pulling several men from the ground as they prayed.
NSW Police commissioner Mal Lanyon said he had privately apologised to Muslim community leaders for any offence caused.
However, NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to apologise, defending the actions of the police and saying he didn't support an independent inquiry.
On Friday, the NSW police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, said it was investigating the conduct of officers at the rally, including "incidents of alleged misconduct".
NSW Police also revealed said a senior officer had told others to wait for the prayer to be completed before moving the group on, but the order was not followed.
"The senior officer was attempting to relay that message to other officers who were carrying out a move-on direction during what was a noisy, dynamic and fast-moving situation," police said in a statement to SBS News.
PM defends Herzog invitation
Asked whether Herzog's visit — which was on invitation by the federal government — had failed to advance social cohesion, Albanese said the Israeli president's trip was about supporting the Jewish community following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
"People can have criticism of the actions of the Netanyahu government and [they] are entitled to express that," he said.
Albanese said the majority of pro-Palestinian demonstrators wanted to peacefully express their views.
But he was critical of organisers of the Sydney rally, noting they had refused to relocate the demonstration to Hyde Park, as suggested by NSW Police.
"They chose not to come up with or participate in a sensible way that would have ensured separation by having the meeting in Hyde Park and then walking, marching, to Belmore Park," he said.
"It is beyond my comprehension why that would not be taken up, that suggestion by the New South Wales Police."
Josh Lees, of Palestine Action Group, earlier this week said the rally would not be "shunted off to some park out of sight and out of mind".
The prime minister said his electorate office in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner-west, had been targeted by some protesters with stink bombs, graffiti and broken windows, which did nothing to advance the Palestinian cause.
He also reiterated his government's support for a two-state solution.
"There are two paths in the Middle East," he said.
"One is a passive path of peace and reconciliation, and a settlement which gives Palestinian justice but also recognises the right of Israel to exist within secure borders, to have security assured [and] its right to defend itself."
He said the other path was the "status quo", which had existed for decades and left Palestinians oppressed and without self-determination.
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