Pro-Palestine protesters clash with police outside Foreign Office HQ

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters blocked workers from getting into the Foreign Office today during a fiery demonstration, which saw police arresting nine people. Dozens of activists from Workers for a Free Palestine have blockaded the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) HQ today. 

Masked protesters armed with provocative placards, Palestine flags and banners, are demanding the UK bans arms exports to Israel. But the heated rally prompted action from the Met Police, with officers seen clashing with protesters in the street.

Dramatic images from the mayhem show a number of activists being dragged along the floor by cops, after demonstrators allegedly refused police orders to move on. Another image appears to show one officer grappling with a mask-wearing protester, while others are seen surrounding another demonstrator.

But the heated rally prompted action from the Met Police, with officers seen clashing with protesters in the street. One protester dressed in a niqab headscarf was seen lighting a red smoke grenade as the chaos outside the FCDO continued to rage. While others behind a large banner demanding the UK to ‘stop arming Israel’ where heard chanting.

One furious demonstrators was pictured yelling at a police officer as his colleagues continued to remove some protesters from the scene. The trade unionist activists are calling on Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the new Labour Government to suspend the sale of weapons to Israel. 

Foreign Office workers were reportedly blocked from getting into the FCDO building in central London. The Met Police said nine people have so far been arrested following this morning’s disorder. Describing the mayhem, a spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Shortly before 8.30am on Wednesday, July 24, a group of protesters arrived at the Whitehall end of King Charles’ Street and stood in the road blocking pedestrian and vehicle access.

‘Officers responded and Public Order Act conditions were imposed on them, requiring them to leave the central arch at the entrance to the street clear. When the group failed to comply with the conditions, officers intervened and made nine arrests, quickly restoring access. Protesters remain in the area but officers are monitoring the situation and ensuring roads are not blocked again,’ the spokesman added.

The protest comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues with his assault on Gaza, in a bid to root out Hamas terrorists. Troops from the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) last night pushed deeper into the eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Terrified Palestinians were seen fleeing their their homes on Tuesday as IDF tanks punched into the area.

It followed a warning by the Israelis for locals to evacuate the area ahead of their latest offensive. The tanks pushed into the Khan Younis town of Bani Suhaila and several districts nearby were bombed for a second day, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to seek refuge elsewhere. Israel said its action – the latest in a series of major assaults in recent weeks in parts of Gaza where it had long since claimed to have rooted out Hamas – was intended to prevent the militant group’s fighters from regrouping.

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