Metropolitan Police have made two arrests after hundreds of people attended a pro-Israel rally in central London on Sunday, calling for the safe return of hostages by Hamas.
The "solidarity rally" in Trafalgar Square was organised by a number of groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Many in the crowd chanted "bring them home" and held signs that said "release the hostages" while others carried Israeli flags and placards showing the faces of those taken hostage.
The Metropolitan Police said two arrests were made - one for a racially aggravated public order offence after a man drove past shouting anti-Semitic abuse.
As the vigil drew to a close, a second arrest was made for a public order Offence after shouting abuse towards those taking part.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove told the rally that “Britain stands with Israel”.
“There are no words to describe the suffering of families who have seen their relatives butchered in front of them and relatives who who live in hope that those who were living peacefully in their homes just two weeks ago and are now in a Hamas dungeon should be freed,” he said.
“No words can sum up the evil of those responsible for these acts.
“But words matter and promises matter and world made a promise 75 years ago, never again.
“And what did we see a fortnight ago? The biggest most horrific slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust, carried out by terrorists, an act of evil unparalleled evil and barbarism. We must stand together against it. We must stand for life. We must bring the hostages home.
“There is a difference between now and 1945 and that difference is the Jewish people have a home, they have a nation. That nation was born in hope to uphold humanities greatest virtues.”
He added: “The IDF are there to protect civilians. Hamas exist to slaughter civilians.”
The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, thanked the King, the Prince of Wales, and cross-party political leaders for their support in wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
“It’s at a time such as this that we discover who our true friends are,” he said, addressing the rally in Trafalgar Square.
He added: "It’s at a time such as this that words do matter and to all our friends from whom so far we haven’t heard a single word, your silence is deafening. Words do matter.
"Sometimes we hear reference to both sides or the two sides but we ourselves know there are indeed two sides, one is good and the other is evil. Israel uses her forces in order to protect her citizens while Hamas uses its citizens to protect its forces. Words do matter.
"Those who fail to condemn, condone. Those who refuse to call Hamas terrorists allow the legitimising of their brutal deeds."
The rally comes after the family of missing British teenager Noiya Sharabi told the BBC that she was murdered in the Hamas attack, along with her 13-year-old sister and mother.
Noiya, 16, and Yahel disappeared after Hamas attacked Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel and killed her Bristol-born mother Lianne. Noiya's British family told the BBC she has now been formally identified.
On Saturday 10 people were arrested after "up to 100,000" people attended a pro-Palestine rally that began at Marble Arch and ended outside Downing Street.
Attendees held signs that read "Freedom for Palestine" and "Stop Bombing Gaza" as they called for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor in Gaza.
Fireworks were launched at officers and five received minor injuries, the Met said. The 10 arrests were for offences involving fireworks, public order and assaulting an emergency service worker.
It came amid significantly heightened community tensions with more police being required for parts of London with large Jewish populations and a sharp rise in anti-Semitic offences.
Figures on Friday showed there had been a 1,353 per cent increase in anti-Semitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140 per cent.
