Demonstrators have gathered outside a conference hosted by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz at the JW3 Jewish cultural centre in London.
Activists can be seen carrying placards accusing Israel of genocide while demonstrators chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Others can be heard chanting: “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution.”
Haaretz’ London conference, “Israel After October 7th: Allied or Alone?”, brings together political figures, analysts and activists from Israel and the UK to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Middle East today and what a post-war landscape looks like.
Journalist Sandy Rashty posted on X/Twitter that there was only a “handful of officers” policing the event, while families with small children are entering JW3.
“The most disgusting, aggressive scenes and levels of intimidation from ‘pro Palestinian’ activists outside JW3, a Jewish cultural centre in London attended by children, young families. Very little police presence,” she said.
Describing how the protesters had gathered around different parts of the centre, she said: “All entrances covered - including those being used - right now - by children.
“Handful, if that, of officers. Definition: intimidation of the Jewish community across the spectrum.”
In one video, Met Police officers can be seen attempting to calm down protesters and push apart crowds. Masked demonstrators shout “End the occupation now” and “You are mass murderers”, while some slam drums nearby speakers.
In a video on X, a protester with a microphone leads a crowd to repeat: “We will continue to occupy these streets every day of the week, no matter how many police… until Zionism no longer exists in the Middle East, because Zionism is a racist ideology.”
Stop the Hate UK tweeted: “Yet again, @metpoliceuk is failing to protect the Jewish community in London.”
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due to speak at the conference, as well as former Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nasser Alkidwa and Dr. Rula Hardal, Co-Director of ‘A Land For All - Two States, One Homeland’.
The Met later issued a statement, saying: “At approximately 08:55hrs on Sunday, 27 October we were made aware by staff at a venue in Finchley Road, NW3 of a number of protesters gathering at the location. Officers attended and remain on scene monitoring the situation. We are also in liaison with staff at the venue to ensure they feel supported.
“Conditions under section 14 of the Public Order Act have been imposed on those protesting.
“One person has been arrested for criminal damage. The protest remains ongoing.”
