Miriam Scharf, 75, a pensioner of Jewish heritage from Newham, east London, said: “It is extremely important to me that it is not done in the name of Jewish people.
“It is extremely important that those who stand up for what is just and for humanity, are allowed to protest about it.
“I think from the beginning under the previous government, they’ve always wanted to shut us up. The Labour government had gone along with it. They don’t like any protests against their policies because our government is … complicit in a genocide, complicit in what’s happening.”
‘We should have right to stand in front of parliament’
Diana Neslen, 85, a “regular” at marches in support of Palestine, attended the protest on two crutches but left after altercations between protesters and the police.
“I’m here today to support democracy, to support free speech and to support our right to peaceful action,” she said when protesters were gathered before Nelson’s Column.
“Look at this, we should have the right to stand in front of parliament and show our faith until the MPs see why we think what they’re doing is wrong.
“Instead we’re herded into little tiny spaces so that hardly anyone can see us, and certainly not the politicians.”
Activists say Met response is ‘draconian’
Police officers and protesters in Trafalgar Square
JEFF MOORE/PA
Palestine Action has lashed out at the Metropolitan Police’s “draconian response” to the protest at Trafalgar Square, in which several protestors were dragged off by police.
“They want to ban us, they banned our protest at parliament and now they attack us,” the group said on X.
“The people will not be intimated. We are all Palestine Action.”
Traffic brought to a standstill
The protesters now spread across the junction of Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road and Duncannon Street.
Pushing in the crowd has now stopped although there remains a heavy police presence.
Pedestrians are able to pass although traffic is blocked. In one corner, protesters who brought young children have put down picnic blankets.
Met chief ‘shocked and frustrated’ by protest
Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, earlier said he was “shocked and frustrated” at the planned demonstration, as the group is soon expected to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
The Met has placed restrictions on the protest, including an exclusion zone around parliament, and stipulating that it must end by 3pm.
Protest moved to Trafalgar Square after parliament ban
Organisers had changed the location of the protest to Trafalgar Square after police enforced an exclusion zone around parliament.
The protest has now spread into the road, blocking traffic. One protester handed out cards with instructions on what to do if arrested.
Cooper to proscribe Palestine Action
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said she has decided to proscribe Palestine Action and will lay an order before parliament next week which, if passed, will make membership and support for the protest group illegal.
Crowd chants ‘shame on you’ at officers 
The scene in Trafalgar Square on Monday
HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP/GETTY
Disorder has broken out at a protest in support of Palestine Action in London, as the group is expected to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
Police appeared to lead away some protesters, while the crowd chanted “shame on you” and “let them go” and tried to pull activists away from officers.