Pro-Israel groups gathered outside the Qatar embassy in London in a bid to challenge its support of terrorist organisations.

More than 50 pro-Israel supporters held up placards at the protest co-organised by Sussex Friends of Israel (SFI) and the Israeli Forum Task Force.

Campaigners asked why Qatar had been allowed to host the World Cup in 2022 by Fifa, world football’s governing body, in the wake of allegations of bribery, terrorism funding and human rights abuses against the country.

Lawyer Mark Lewis - who acted for more than 120 victims of the phone hacking scandal - spoke at the event.

He said: “Qatar is not fit to host the World Cup in 2022. Ordinary people must stand up and protest against the unification of corruption and terrorism. It is wrong for football, it is wrong for freedom and it is wrong for Fifa.”

Speaking at the protest, SFI co-founder Fiona Sharpe said: “I’m here as a British Jew standing up for what I believe is right. It’s important that the world starts realising just how involved Qatar is at funding global terror.

“How we allowed this to happen with Fifa is hugely troubling. We expect Fifa to uphold ethical values and not support a country that has strong ties with terror.”

She added: “The Jewish community has started sending our own agenda. We’re now brave enough to stand up and be seen.”

A small group tried to deliver a petition but the embassy would not accept it.

“We’ve had no official response from the Qatari embassy. We hope we will have one,” added Ms Sharpe.

Last week, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, denied that wealthy Qataris were backing the Islamic State in a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.