Palestinian and Israeli supporters have clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately try and keep the peace on a night where thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have descended on the Israeli embassy.
Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station while a lively pro-Palestine rally took place outside.
Fireworks were seen being launched by pro-Palestine protesters on High Street Kensington – some towards the Israeli embassy – while many were unable to push through heaving crowds.
In stark contrast to the dancing, singing and flares in Kensington, weeping Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas after the terror group launched its violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday.
In Kensington, pro-Palestine protesters – some climbing lampposts with flags and flares – chanted ‘Israel is a terrorist state’ and ‘Allahu akhbar’, with stalls set up touting ‘Free Palestine‘ merchandise in the upmarket shopping district. But Israelis descended on Kensington and waved their country’s flag as things turned ugly forcing police to step in.
Police had to escort supporters of both countries onto the platforms where tensions threatened to boil over. One Israeli goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington.
Brit Patricia Ryan, who was at the rally with her Palestinian husband, told MailOnline she was ‘surprised like everybody’ by the Hamas attack, but added: ‘We feel that there had to be a huge tectonic movement for any change to occur in the Middle East. 75 years is a long time. Nothing, nothing was happening.
Palestinian and Israeli supporters have clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately try and keep the peace
Israeli flags were being waves while Palestinian posters can be seen in the background
Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to divide demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station while a pro-Palestine rally took place outside
One Israeli goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington
Palestine flags were waved throughout Kensington high street on Monday night
Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the Israel Embassy in London chanting ‘free free Palestine ‘ and lighting flairs
Smoke fills the air in west London as pro-Palestine protesters continue their demonstration
Makeshift stalls were set up touting ‘Free Palestine’ merchandise in the popular shopping district
Protesters set off red and green flares
Smoke fills the air as protesters gather on the busy shopping street in west London
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards near the Israeli Embassy
There was a significant police presence in the Royal borough throughout the evening
‘It’s sad to say there’s no way to do it peacefully. Every avenue has been tried and failed.’
‘Boiling point for Palestinians has been there for a long time. Now of course very quickly the Israelis are feeling that pressure, that terrible sense of danger that the Palestinians deal with day in day out.’
Another pro-Palestine protester, Mosibur Rahman Ullah, 53, said the situation in Gaza has ‘reached boiling point’ after ’75 years of Israeli oppression’ of Palestinians.
In reference to Hamas militant’s acts of terror on members of the Israeli population, he told MailOnline: ‘Sometimes you have to fight, freedom isn’t won just by words.’
He added that ‘the diplomatic means at the hands of Palestinians just hasn’t worked, so these are the steps they have had to take’.
Another protester, who was handing out Free Palestine merchandise, said that the brutal Hamas attack was ‘justified’, adding: ‘I do feel its something the Palestinian support.’
But one protester condemned Hamas’ attack, saying ‘what we want is peace’, but said that ‘what has been happening with Palestine throughout so, so many years cannot continue to happen. It is just a retaliation [to that].’
Twenty-year-old Russian Akhmed agreed, telling MailOnline: ‘I don’t think it’s right to kill civillians. There’s been innocent people harmed because of this situation which is why it’s important it should stop. People who have killed vicilians should be held accountable.
But he said action was needed, adding: ‘I’m a Muslim myself so I’m supporting my Muslim brothers and sisters. It’s unfair what Israel soldiers have done to Palestinians for so many years. It’s important to come speak and support Palestine and help to stop Israeli occupation.
People take part in a ‘Vigil for Israel’ opposite the entrance to Downing Street
Mourners gathered to remember those lost during the violence in Israel, with the death toll surpassing 700
Israelis gathered outside Downing Street tonight to fly their country’s flag amid Hamas’ unprecedented assault
Attendees at the vigil held up placards saying ‘I stand with Israel’
People take part in a ‘Vigil for Israel’ opposite the entrance to Downing Street
The Palace of Westminster illuminated in the colours of the flag of Israel as the Government shows support
As the evening went on, anger turned into jubilation among some of the pro-Palestine protesters, with music blaring and flags waving.
One pro-Palestine supporter told MailOnline that ‘Israel has done terrible things before’ and the ‘whole world has been silent for so long’.
He added: ‘I’m not justifying any action that ends human life. Everyone wants peace and harmony. But one side has land, power and everything and one side has nothing.
‘They have a right to have land, freedom and a livelihood. We don’t encourage violence. We want peace and co existence.’
‘Israel has the support of largest economy in world most powerful economy – western society. They have no voice.’
It comes as Suella Braverman urged police forces to step up patrols to prevent anti-Jewish disorder and violence.
As the night went on, pro-Palestinian supporters danced to music and waved the country’s flag
People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy
Boards of wood and gates were placed around the entrance to the Israeli embassy earlier on Monday.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the groups behind the demonstration, said in a statement: ‘The offensive launched from Gaza can only be understood in the context of Israel’s ongoing, decades long, military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land and imposition of a system of oppression that meets the legal definition of apartheid.
‘This is the context in which we need to understand the cycle of violence. If violence is to end, both that of the oppressor and the oppressed, then we must all take action to end the root cause – Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.’
More than 700 Israelis have so far been killed after the Hamas militant group attacked the south of the country from Gaza, killing scores of young people at a music festival and raining down rockets on the region.
British Jews have said they are ‘at one’ with Israelis, with the Chief Rabbi addressing the crowds.