Ten people have been arrested in central London accused of threatening to kill and burning the Israeli flag as opposition groups staged demonstrations against Israel and Palestine after new powers to prevent “disruptive” protests came into force.

Around 1,000 people gathered on Masham Street outside the Home Office on Friday afternoon for the annual pro-Palestinian Al Quds Day march to Downing Street, while a major counter-protest was held in Parliament Square .

Israel attacked a convoy of humanitarian workers, including three Britons, dead as it was working with charity World Central Kitchen to deliver food parcels to starving people in the war-torn Gaza Strip, authorities said , where more than 33,000 people were trapped, and tensions rose. Killed since October.

The Metropolitan Police said two counter-protesters were arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill when two demonstrations met, while a third was arrested on suspicion of failing to remain within a designated protest area.

Two men were also arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an Israeli flag was allegedly burned near the Richmond Terrace stage opposite Downing Street.

Another man has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offense after he allegedly made homophobic comments, and three people who allegedly tried to prevent the man’s arrest were detained for perverting the course of justice, Scotland Yard said.

At 7pm, the designated end time for the march, police said Richmond Terrace was “now largely clear” of demonstrators, adding: “A further person has been arrested for assaulting an emergency worker. Fortunately , the injured police officer who was attacked was not serious. “

A Met spokesman said two more people had been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred independentbringing the total number of arrests to 10.

Earlier, London Broadcasting Corporation reporter Fraser Knight said the situation was “very tense” as the march passed through Parliament Square, with the two groups “calling each other terrorists”. He said that the police rope ” played an important role in separating the two demonstrations.”

“It feels a lot like two rival football teams hurling abuse at each other, but so far there’s been no apparent problem. Just strong words,” he said.

The Met said photos of placards with the words “Resist by any means necessary” were being shared online, but police said they were taken when officers proactively stopped people near the start of the march.

“We therefore do not believe they have been distributed. We will take action if they appear in crowds,” police said. But pictures were shared on social media purporting to show several placards among the crowd.

The march, organized by the Islamic Human Rights Council, took place on the last Friday of Ramadan, with more than 500 police deployed to maintain order. The event has been criticized in the past for participants flying flags of Lebanese militant Hezbollah group and waving signs with alleged anti-Semitic messages.

Police said it had held discussions with organizers of both demonstrations, which were subject to conditions under the Public Order Act.

Commander Colin Wingrove, who is leading the police operation, said: “The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to have a profound impact on communities, including in London. We recognize that some believe this should not be allowed at all. A march took place.

“We work within the law. Parliament has determined that an application to the Home Secretary to ban a protest can only be made in very rare and specific circumstances. It would require a real risk of serious disorder, neither the intelligence situation nor our conversations with organizers. Gives us reason to believe that this threshold will be reached today.”

He added: “Our role is to police without fear and favor within the law, but whatever our views on what is said, our powers do not extend to police taste and decency. When Crime Lines When it gets passed, we will step in.”

A pro-Israel counter-protester claimed those taking part in the Al-Quds Day march were “naive” or “brainwashed.” Efim, 73, said Hamas should release the hostages before a ceasefire is implemented.

Speaking of those who think a ceasefire should be reached first, he said: “I think they are naive. If it were their family members, I think they would also join our side.”

Asked about accusations of anti-Semitism against the march, pro-Palestinian protester Abed, 45, said: “We actually had Jews participating in the protests. You can ask anyone from any background, any religion – This is not a religious issue, this is a human issue.”

He added: “Our message to the British government is to stop cooperating with regimes that are involved in genocide. The whole world is talking about it. European countries have started to cut supplies to Israel, all supplies, so why can’t our government stop cooperating with regimes that are involved in genocide?” What about their supply of weapons?

“They used weapons, they killed their own people, they killed our own people, they killed aid workers, three of them from the UK.”

In a joint letter to Met Commissioner Mark Rowley on Wednesday, the International Human Rights Council and other pro-Palestinian groups accused the Met of “policing for political purposes”, saying the force “routinely abuses its legal powers to harass pro-Palestinian protesters”.

The Metropolitan Police arrested four people, including one on suspicion of terrorism-related offences, at a pro-Palestinian protest in central London on Saturday attended by more than 200,000 people.

Additional report by PA