arge crowds have massed in central London as part of a pro-Palestine protest amid police warnings that anyone showing support for Hamas could face arrest.
Thousands are expected to take to the streets on Saturday in support of Palestine and to demand an end to the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Pictures show large numbers of people in central London holding placards saying “free Palestine” with many draped in the Palestinian flag.
Ahead of the march, the Met has said it will deploy more than 1,000 officers to police the demonstration.
Protesters have been warned flying a flag in support of Hamas is an offence which will lead to an arrest.
The march will start in Portland Place before ending in Whitehall.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is responsible for policing in London this weekend, said: “Our role as an independent and impartial service is to balance the right to lawful protest with potential disruption to Londoners.
“People do not have the right to incite violence or hatred. The law is clear that support for proscribed organisations is illegal.
“Anyone with a flag in support of Hamas or any other proscribed terrorist organisation will be arrested.
“We will not tolerate the celebration of terrorism or death, or tolerate anyone inciting violence.”
The gathering comes as Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza after Israel’s military told them to evacuate ahead of an expected ground invasion.
The UN, human rights groups and others have been among those expressing deep concern about the impact of Israeli action on civilians, as the death toll continues to grow amid airstrikes and a siege on the territory.
As the conflict deepens, an RAF flight left Israel on Friday night as part of a UK Government effort to get British nationals to safety.
A plane carried passengers to Cyprus, with the air force assisting the Foreign Office amid a limited availability of commercial flights.
Three Britons are confirmed to have died during last weekend’s assault on Israel, but reports have suggested at least 17 could be among the casualties.
The Palestinian Health Authority has said at least 2,215 people have been killed and a further 330,000 displaced following Israeli airstrikes.
In Israel, some 1,300 people are said to have died while as many as 53 have been killed in the West Bank.
