Police and protesters have clashed on the streets of Paris as pro-Palestine protesters tried to make their way to the site of a pro-Israel demonstration.
Footage on social media appeared to show a large group in an altercation with police in which batons were drawn and tear gas used.
The protest was being held to demonstrate against the holding of an « Israel is forever » event in the French capital.
The holding of the event had caused anger amongst some due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich had been due to attend the event but had to cancel his appearance due to security concerns.
The far-right member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet currently holds authority over the occupied West Bank and is said to be one of the driving forces behind Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza.
There had been calls for the demonstration, described by the events organisers as “the mobilization of Zionist French-speaking forces in the service of Israel‘s power and history”, to be cancelled.
However, French authorities refused the request made by a pro-Palestinian organization, CAPJPO-EuroPalestine.
Speaking about the demonstration, Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez said: “I will not ban this demonstration. I have no reason to do so.
“We’re obviously going to protect this gala.”
A French court also ruled that there was no reason to ban the event as “the existence of a defined and imminent threat” had not been established.
A counter protest made its way through the city and attempted to make its way towards the pro-Israeli demonstration when clashes were seen to have taken place.
Social media footage showed some protesters being apprehended although numbers of arrests have not yet been confirmed.
It is not currently known of any injuries to police or protesters.
France is on high alert for antisemitic disorder, with the French football team set to host Israel tomorrow night in the capital.
It comes a week after fans of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv were “ambushed” in Amsterdam following a game against Ajax, resulting in a military plane being stood up by the Israeli Prime Minister to rescue fans.
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