PROTESTERS gathered outside the Israeli embassy in London today to oppose ongoing attacks against Palestinian worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan. 

Dozens took part in the impromptu demonstration outside the embassy in Kensington, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), waving Palestinian flags and holding placards reading: “Free Palestine.”

In Jerusalem, Israeli police again stormed the Old City’s al-Aqsa compound, the third-holiest site in Islam, firing rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades and, in a new first, using drones to direct tear gas onto worshippers below. 

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that it had treated 57 Palestinians, with 14 taken to hospital. 

At least two journalists were injured. Vice News reported that Israeli forces had fired rubber-coated steel bullets into a crowd of journalists, despite the group repeatedly shouting in Arabic, English and Hebrew that they were members of the press. 

Ahead of the London protest, PSC deputy director of campaigners Ryvka Barnard branded the attacks a “blatant violation of Palestinians’ rights.” 

“While the UK government calls for ‘calm and restraint,’ it continues to approve the sale of weapons to Israel used daily in brutal and unlawful violence against Palestinians,” she added. 

“If the UK wanted calm, it would not be transferring deadly weapons to an apartheid state. The UK government must immediately cease its two-way arms trade with Israel.” 

At least 189 Palestinians have been injured at the al-Aqsa site since the start of Ramadan.

Israeli police said that officers has entered the compound today after Palestinians threw stones at the gates where security forces are stationed. 

Also involved in organising the London demonstration were the Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Muslim Association of Britain and Palestinian Forum in Britain.