Vigil and protest in London as deadly violence flares in the Middle East

• Tap above to watch video report of the vigil and protest taking place in London

A vigil and a protest were being held in London on Monday night as deadly violence flared in the Middle East.

A crowd gathered outside Downing Street at a vigil for Israel as concerns also grew about a possible rise in antisemitic attacks.

"We’re worried about a rise in antisemitism in London," Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews told ITV News London.

"History has shown that whenever there is any sort of incident in Israel that’s there is an immediate rise in antisemitism.

"I’m aware a shop has already been smashed in Golders Green, the community is on alert and we are expecting incidents.

"The whole community is worried and that’s partly why we are here. It’s also the grieve and to stand in solidarity but the community is definitely very worried because many people here have got a relative or someone they know who might have been kidnapped or killed and they are seeing scenes that are so profoundly shocking.

" No one can sleep, no one can believe it, it’s seems unimaginable for people to be butchered and paraded through the streets.

"It’s important people say it is not acceptable to attack people. As a community we are here today to mourn and show solidarity in the face of these terrible events," she explained.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Monday, after visiting Golders Green, that she is urging police chiefs in England and Wales to step up patrols in Jewish communities.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:“The barbaric attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists who have massacred civilians and kidnapped the most vulnerable - including the elderly, women, and children - is truly sickening," she said.

"The UK stands unequivocally with Israel in her fight against this evil. There can be zero tolerance for antisemitism. Sadly, we have seen in recent years how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred  against British Jewish communities.

"There is no place for demonstrations, convoys, or flag-waving on British streets that glorifies terrorism or harasses the Jewish community.

"I am writing to police chiefs in England and Wales to urge them to step up patrols and use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress to our communities. I have been clear officers should act immediately to crackdown on criminality - both in our streets and online.

"I have visited staff at the Community Security Trust who work hard to protect British Jews from antisemitism and joined the Metropolitan Police Service officers on patrol as they provide reassurance to neighbourhoods in north London."

Parts of the Israeli embassy in west London appear to have been boarded up amid a pro-Palestine demonstration outside the building.

Hundreds gathered in Kensington on Monday afternoon, chanting “Free Palestine”.

Large groups of police officers watched on as placards calling for Israel to “end the occupation” were waved.

Boards of wood and gates were placed around the entrance to the embassy.

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.”

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