Hundreds descend on Kensington to protest over violence in Middle East

 
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Hundreds of protesters descended on the Israeli embassy today in response to escalating violence in the Middle East.

Police cordoned off the west bound lane of High Street Kensington where protesters were penned in after being removed from Palace Green in front of the embassy.

The heavy police presence of more than 200 officers and around a dozen riot vans divided the crowd and kept a smaller pro-Israeli protest separate from Pro- Palestinian groups which included Free Palestine, Stop the War Collation and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The activists, many of whom had been there since 5pm, held banners and chanted.

Shumon Chakraborty, 29, a musician from Ealing, said: “It’s great that we are protesting about what is happening in the Middle East here in London.

“It is important to have an impact and make our voices heard.

“Israel seems to have been quite strategic in their actions, and they have provoked a reaction from Hamas, so tensions are obviously running high.”

Olivia Jardine, 21, and Georgia Rigg, 22, travelled from Brighton today to take part in the protest against the Israeli air strikes.

Miss Rigg, who is a student at the University of Sussex, said: “I went to Palestine this summer where I was working for a university.

“I feel like I understand much more about the conflict and I have come today to show the Government that we are disgusted about what has happened in the Middle East and that we are not going to be quiet about it. We must take some responsibility.”

Miss Jardine added: “Palestine is a big issue and I’m glad we came to the capital today to show that we care.”

Rabbi Jacob weisz, from the activist group Jews United Against Zionism, said: “We as Jews feel strongly that we should stand up for the humanitarian justice of the Palestinian people.

“We are deeply embarrassed about what is happening in Israel. The Jews and Judaism does not equate to Zionism. We want world leaders to understand this.”

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