Israel and Hamas vow to fight on in Gaza

More protests over the Gaza conflict are expected to hit UK streets on Sunday. Police arrested two dozen people in London on Saturday night as a pro-Palestinian demonstration turned nasty near the Israeli Embassy. A group of 200 protesters from the otherwise-peaceful 12,000-strong crowd hurled missiles and smashed windows in Kensington High Street. One police officer was knocked unconscious and two others receive facial injuries. Several officers were also injured when dozens of demonstrators attacked the US Consulate in Edinburgh. In London's Trafalgar Square a pro-Israeli rally is taking place later on Sunday "to show an appreciation for the intolerable situation of those who have faced years living in the shadow of relentless Hamas rocket attacks". A similar event is also planned for Manchester where speakers will call for an end to Hamas "terror and peace". Scotland Yard said: "There will be an appropriate policing contingent in place, depending on how many people attend." At Saturday's rally demonstrators gathered in Hyde Park where actress Lauren Booth criticised her brother-in-law Tony Blair, saying his suggestions for a ceasefire in Gaza would condemn Palestinians "to a slow agonising death". Police ensured a heavy presence after a similar protest last Saturday was also marred by confrontations. At the height of the trouble around 200 young men hurled barriers, metal poles and fire extinguishers. A Starbucks coffee shop was stripped of chairs and had its front windows smashed. Commander Bob Broadhurst, the officer in charge of policing the event, said police would need to sit down with anti and pro-Israel protesters after problems outside the embassy in recent days. "People have a right to protest, but any reasonable observer would see what is happening and say, 'let's protest somewhere else'." Mr Broadhurst said he expected up to 40 arrests to result from the trouble.

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ITN | January 11, 2009

Tags:. .rally. .observer. .chairs. .coffee. .conflict