Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in London for an Al-Quds Day rally expressing support for Iran and Palestine despite the UK government banning the traditional march over public-order concerns. Police allowed a static protest under strict conditions, deploying heavy security as counter-protesters also assembled nearby. Several arrests were reported. 


US-Iran War: Londoners Rally for Iran Despite Ban on Al-Quds Day March

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;

A statement from the Al-Quds Brigades, which is the armed branch of the group, read: "Ali Ghali... commander of the rocket launch unit... was assassinated in the south of the Gaza Strip along with other martyrs." Besides the announcement by the Palestinian group, the Israeli army also said that it targeted Ghali in the strike.&nbsp;

More than 22 Palestinians were reportedly killed over two days as Israel's army and Gaza militants exchanged heavy cross-border fire. This is the worst escalation of violence to hit the coastal territory in months.&nbsp;

Palestinian health officials claimed that among the total fatalities, at least five women and five children, as well as three senior Islamic Jihad commanders and four gunmen have been killed since the fighting began.&nbsp;

Israeli officials have said Egypt was working on a possible truce with the militant group Islamic Jihad as blaring sirens warned of incoming rockets in the Tel Aviv area and Israel's south.&nbsp;

Islamic Jihad spokesman Dawoud Shehab said that Cairo had begun brokering a ceasefire. Egypt previously mediated in previous rounds of fighting.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Israeli missile strikes continue across Gaza border, Islamic Jihadists retaliate over 100 rockets&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told public broadcaster Kan that the government was examining Egypt's proposals. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks that Islamic Jihad had sustained a serious blow. However, the prime minister cautioned: "The campaign is not over yet."&nbsp;

More than 130 targets were hit, including rocket-launching sites, the Israeli military said. Netanyahu said that more than 400 rockets were fired, but a quarter of which fell short in Gaza.&nbsp;

As rockets streaked through the sky, Israeli TV showed air defence systems intercepting rockets above Tel Aviv skies.&nbsp;

The Israeli military said that for the first time, an air-defense system known as David's Sling intercepted a rocket. The system, developed with the US, is meant to intercept medium-range threats and is part of a multi-layered air defence that also includes the better-known Iron Dome anti-rocket system. Israeli media said a previous attempt to use the system several years ago had failed.&nbsp;

The army said that schools would remain closed and restrictions on large gatherings would remain in place in southern Israel until at least till Friday. Residents were instructed to stay near bomb shelters.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, in a move that could further raise tensions, Israeli police said they would permit a Jewish ultranationalist parade to take place next week. The parade, meant to celebrate Israel's capture of east Jerusalem and its Jewish holy sites, marches through the heart of the Old City's Muslim Quarter and often leads to friction with local Palestinians.&nbsp;

<h2>Urgent calls for de-escalation&nbsp;</h2>

The White House said that national security advisor Jake Sullivan emphasised the need for de-escalation during a call on Wednesday with the head of Israel's National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi.&nbsp;

"Sullivan ... noted continued regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, and emphasized the need to deescalate tensions and prevent further loss of life," according to a White House readout.

The Arab League also condemned the "aggressive (and) barbaric Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip, which targeted civilians, children and women in residential neighbourhoods".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. A statement from the Al-Quds Brigades, which is the armed branch of the group, read: "Ali Ghali... commander of the rocket launch unit... was assassinated in the south of the Gaza Strip along with other martyrs." Besides the announcement by the Palestinian group, the Israeli army also said that it targeted Ghali in the strike. More than 22 Palestinians were reportedly killed over two days as Israel's army and Gaza militants exchanged heavy cross-border fire. This is the worst escalation of violence to hit the coastal territory in months. Palestinian health officials claimed that among the total fatalities, at least five women and five children, as well as three senior Islamic Jihad commanders and four gunmen have been killed since the fighting began. Israeli officials have said Egypt was working on a possible truce with the militant group Islamic Jihad as blaring sirens warned of incoming rockets in the Tel Aviv area and Israel's south. Islamic Jihad spokesman Dawoud Shehab said that Cairo had begun brokering a ceasefire. Egypt previously mediated in previous rounds of fighting. WATCH | Israeli missile strikes continue across Gaza border, Islamic Jihadists retaliate over 100 rockets × Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told public broadcaster Kan that the government was examining Egypt's proposals. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks that Islamic Jihad had sustained a serious blow. However, the prime minister cautioned: "The campaign is not over yet." More than 130 targets were hit, including rocket-launching sites, the Israeli military said. Netanyahu said that more than 400 rockets were fired, but a quarter of which fell short in Gaza. As rockets streaked through the sky, Israeli TV showed air defence systems intercepting rockets above Tel Aviv skies. The Israeli military said that for the first time, an air-defense system known as David's Sling intercepted a rocket. The system, developed with the US, is meant to intercept medium-range threats and is part of a multi-layered air defence that also includes the better-known Iron Dome anti-rocket system. Israeli media said a previous attempt to use the system several years ago had failed. The army said that schools would remain closed and restrictions on large gatherings would remain in place in southern Israel until at least till Friday. Residents were instructed to stay near bomb shelters. Meanwhile, in a move that could further raise tensions, Israeli police said they would permit a Jewish ultranationalist parade to take place next week. The parade, meant to celebrate Israel's capture of east Jerusalem and its Jewish holy sites, marches through the heart of the Old City's Muslim Quarter and often leads to friction with local Palestinians. Urgent calls for de-escalation The White House said that national security advisor Jake Sullivan emphasised the need for de-escalation during a call on Wednesday with the head of Israel's National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi. "Sullivan ... noted continued regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, and emphasized the need to deescalate tensions and prevent further loss of life," according to a White House readout. The Arab League also condemned the "aggressive (and) barbaric Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip, which targeted civilians, children and women in residential neighbourhoods". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Islamic Jihad says military leader killed in Israeli strike in Gaza

The German government has called on people to wear the Jewish kippa ahead of an anti-Israel protest as a demonstration of solidarity and as Jews face a spike in anti-Semitism, withdrawing an earlier warning against wearing the traditional skullcap.

At the weekend, Felix Klein, the country's commissioner on anti-Semitism sparked uproar when he said in an interview with the Funke regional press group that he could not "advise Jews to wear the kippa everywhere all the time in Germany."

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin voiced shock at Klein's warning and said it was a "capitulation to anti-Semitism" and evidence that Jews are unsafe in Germany.

Late Monday, Klein reversed course after Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman intervened.

"The state must see to it that the free exercise of religion is possible for all... and that anyone can go anywhere in our country in full security wearing a kippa," Steffen Seibert told a press conference.

In his latest statement to Funke, Klein said,&nbsp;"I call on all citizens of Berlin and across Germany to wear the kippa next Saturday if there are new, intolerable attacks targeting Israel and Jews on the occasion of al-Quds day in Berlin."

Al-Quds is an annual event against Israeli control of Jerusalem and will take place on Saturday.

Klein also addressed his earlier statements, saying that he "could no longer recommend that Jews wear the kippa everywhere in Germany should be taken as an alarm signal."

Earlier Monday, German daily Bild published a cut-out-and-use kippa in a bid to fight rising anti-Semitism.

Bild, Germany's top-selling daily newspaper, called on readers to "stand in solidarity with (their) Jewish neighbours" by making "their own kippa", bearing the star of David, to "raise the flag against anti-Semitism".

Germany, like other Western countries, has watched with alarm as anti-Semitic and other racist hate speech and violence have increased in recent years while the political climate has coarsened and grown more polarised.

Anti-Semitic crimes rose by 20 per cent in Germany last year, according to interior ministry data which blamed nine out of 10 cases on the extreme right.

The arrival in parliament of the far-right AfD party, whose leaders openly question Germany's culture of atonement for World War II atrocities, has also contributed to the change in atmosphere.

Merkel has also deplored "another form of anti-Semitism" stemming from a major asylum-seeker influx, with many coming from Muslim countries like Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has already issued several warnings about wearing the kippa in public.

In one prominent case last year, a 19-year-old Syrian man was convicted for assault after lashing out with his belt at an Israeli man wearing a Jewish skullcap while shouting "Yahudi", Jew in Arabic.

The German government has called on people to wear the Jewish kippa ahead of an anti-Israel protest as a demonstration of solidarity and as Jews face a spike in anti-Semitism, withdrawing an earlier warning against wearing the traditional skullcap.

The German government has called on people to wear the Jewish kippa ahead of an anti-Israel protest as a demonstration of solidarity and as Jews face a spike in anti-Semitism, withdrawing an earlier warning against wearing the traditional skullcap. At the weekend, Felix Klein, the country's commissioner on anti-Semitism sparked uproar when he said in an interview with the Funke regional press group that he could not "advise Jews to wear the kippa everywhere all the time in Germany." Israeli President Reuven Rivlin voiced shock at Klein's warning and said it was a "capitulation to anti-Semitism" and evidence that Jews are unsafe in Germany. Late Monday, Klein reversed course after Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman intervened. "The state must see to it that the free exercise of religion is possible for all... and that anyone can go anywhere in our country in full security wearing a kippa," Steffen Seibert told a press conference. In his latest statement to Funke, Klein said, "I call on all citizens of Berlin and across Germany to wear the kippa next Saturday if there are new, intolerable attacks targeting Israel and Jews on the occasion of al-Quds day in Berlin." Al-Quds is an annual event against Israeli control of Jerusalem and will take place on Saturday. Klein also addressed his earlier statements, saying that he "could no longer recommend that Jews wear the kippa everywhere in Germany should be taken as an alarm signal." Earlier Monday, German daily Bild published a cut-out-and-use kippa in a bid to fight rising anti-Semitism. Bild, Germany's top-selling daily newspaper, called on readers to "stand in solidarity with (their) Jewish neighbours" by making "their own kippa", bearing the star of David, to "raise the flag against anti-Semitism". Germany, like other Western countries, has watched with alarm as anti-Semitic and other racist hate speech and violence have increased in recent years while the political climate has coarsened and grown more polarised. Anti-Semitic crimes rose by 20 per cent in Germany last year, according to interior ministry data which blamed nine out of 10 cases on the extreme right. The arrival in parliament of the far-right AfD party, whose leaders openly question Germany's culture of atonement for World War II atrocities, has also contributed to the change in atmosphere. Merkel has also deplored "another form of anti-Semitism" stemming from a major asylum-seeker influx, with many coming from Muslim countries like Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. The Central Council of Jews in Germany has already issued several warnings about wearing the kippa in public. In one prominent case last year, a 19-year-old Syrian man was convicted for assault after lashing out with his belt at an Israeli man wearing a Jewish skullcap while shouting "Yahudi", Jew in Arabic.

German government urges wearing of Jewish kippa

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US-Iran War: Londoners Rally for Iran Despite Ban on Al-Quds Day March

Islamic Jihad says military leader killed in Israeli strike in Gaza

German government urges wearing of Jewish kippa