Punches were thrown and demonstrators hurled abuse at one another as Pro-Israel and Palestinian protest groups clashed during a tense stand-off at Bondi Beach.

Two rival protests held at the Sydney beach turned ugly on Sunday morning when pro-Israel demonstrators shouted abuse at a group of a few hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who had converged on the sand for a paddle-out supporting Gaza.

Despite a heavy police presence — and determined work by officers to keep the two groups separated — video taken at the event showed punches being thrown during a scuffle between demonstrators.

Police are investigating the incident.

The rival protests broke out after pro-Israel groups took exception to a paddle-out supporting Gaza. Organised by the group Jews Against the Occupation, the event

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