Key facts
- New South Wales has admitted that a police officer punched Hannah Thomas in the eye during a pro-Palestine protest.
- The state has admitted to false imprisonment and battery in its defence to a civil action.
- Thomas suffered a ruptured eyeball and fractured eye socket, requiring three surgeries.
- The state has offered to pay Thomas's reasonable medical expenses.
- Charges against Thomas were dropped by the director of public prosecutions in September 2025.
The state of New South Wales has admitted that a police officer punched pro-Palestine protester Hannah Thomas in the eye while holding a torch during an arrest and has offered to pay her medical costs. Court documents reveal the state admitted to false imprisonment and battery in its defence to a civil action launched by Thomas, a former Greens candidate.
Thomas was arrested in June 2025 at a protest concerning SEC Plating's alleged provision of components for weapons used by Israel in the Gaza conflict. Three months later, all charges against her and three other protesters were dropped. Thomas, who weighed 45kg and was 156cm tall at the time, underwent three surgeries on her right eye after the alleged assault, which her lawyers claim ruptured her eyeball and fractured her eye socket.
Senior Constable Christopher Davis is accused of punching Thomas's right eye with his right hand while holding a torch. The state admitted this conduct constituted a battery and caused harm. NSW also admitted another battery occurred when Senior Constable Pir Ali Noohpoto grabbed Thomas's upper body before the punch. The state argued other officers used reasonable force to suppress a breach of the peace.
However, NSW denied claims of malicious prosecution and malfeasance in public office, which Thomas alleged, stating an officer falsified events and charged her for an improper purpose. Thomas was initially charged with resisting police and failing to disperse, with a second charge later added before all charges were withdrawn. She was subsequently awarded $22,000 in legal costs.