The NSW police watchdog on Friday announced it was in the public interest to investigate the actions of officers at a protest at Sydney Town Hall on Monday, including incidents of alleged misconduct.
The police response at the rally triggered widespread outrage after officers were accused of using indiscriminate and extreme force to disperse a crowd of thousands protesting Israeli President Isaac Herzog's four-day Australian tour.
Officers shoved and dragged a group of Muslims performing the sunset prayer, despite a senior officer agreeing to allow the minutes-long prayer to conclude.
Amnesty International Australia was among several civil liberties groups to welcome the probe.
Protest organisers Palestine Action Group demanded the resignations of the premier and police commissioner.
"The police operation bore all the hallmarks of a police riot," spokesman Amal Naser said.
The watchdog's probe into the "deeply concerning violent scenes" needed to be comprehensive, without delay and involve public hearings, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said.
"Transparency and accountability for police actions are not anti-police; they are pro-democracy, and increase public trust and confidence in the institution," it said.Â
Amnesty International was "shocked and horrified by the unnecessary and disproportionate force used by NSW police", Australian spokesman on Palestine matters Mohamed Duar said.
The police watchdog said it had received a significant number of complaints and its investigation would include hearings.
"The commission will obtain and review all available material, including video and phone footage, documents, records and other information including that held by the NSW Police Force," it said.
The investigation will provide political cover for Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley, who have resisted calls - including from within their own party - for a separate independent inquiry into police behaviour at the protest.
Ms Catley described the commission as strong and independent, while falling short of welcoming the probe.
"The best thing we can do right now is to allow the LECC to do its job," she said.
As community tensions simmer, Mr Minns has resisted apologising for police's violent dispersal of a group of kneeling Muslim men performing the minutes-long sunset prayer on the sidelines of Monday's chaos.
That was despite taking counsel from the most senior Muslim in government, Jihad Dib, who has described being "deeply distressed" at the violence and "physical disruption of prayers".
Police on Friday issued a partial mea culpa after discovering a senior officer had allowed the prayers to conclude.
"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," a spokeswoman said.
"However, some worshippers were moved on before the message from the senior officer was able to be relayed."
The leader of Monday's prayer, Sheikh Wesam Charkawi, demanded consequences, saying no citizen should require protection from the police.
"The only remedy to the situation must result in nothing short of an inquiry," he told AAP.
Meanwhile, police have charged a 45-year-old man with stalking Mr Herzog in Sydney.
The man allegedly filmed the Israeli leader's car and swore at him as the motorcade drove past in central Sydney on Monday.
The next day, the man repeatedly drove past a childcare centre in Bondi Junction before stopping and swearing at a security guard.
He is due to face court on March 4 on stalking, offensive manner and driving charges.
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