Hundreds of people have held a rally in the British capital, London, to protest against the Israeli regime forces’ latest attack against the Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East al-Quds.
The crowd gathered outside the Israeli embassy in London on Friday, as they waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as "Free Palestine" to condemn the violent raid and demand an end to Israeli attacks.
Some protesters also carried placards, reading "Stop arming Israel", "End Israeli Apartheid", "Sanctions on Israel" and "Gaza, end the siege."
The protest was organized by pro-Palestine rights groups, including Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum in Britain, and Stop the War Coalition. Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and Jewish Voice for Labors were among the participants.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), said they gathered there because of the "brutal" attacks by Israeli forces against Palestinians.
"We are here because once again Israel is bombing Palestinians in Gaza and we are here because, since the beginning of 2023, Israel has been massacring Palestinians," he told the crowd.
Saudah Badat, from the Friends of Al-Aqsa, also condemned Israeli forces’ attack against Palestinian worshipers who were observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan in al-Aqsa, saying "Attacking any place of worship should be considered an act of terror."
She also stressed what is happening in the region is not a clash, or a conflict between equal sides; rather it is brutal attacks of "apartheid policies."
Dozens of heavily armed Israeli forces stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday night before firing tear gas and stun grenades into the Qibli prayer hall, where hundreds of men, women, elderly people, and children were staying overnight to pray. Some eyewitnesses said rubber-coated steel bullets were also fired.
Israeli officers then beat worshipers with batons and riot guns, wounding many, before arresting them.
Videos from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers repeatedly hitting people with batons while they appeared to lie on the floor. In the meantime, the cries for help from women and children could be heard in the background.
Since the start of the holy month, the Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.