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In Pictures: Pro-Gaza protest in Tel Aviv

Since the Israeli attack on Gaza started, left wing activists have held demos in center Tel Aviv every weekend.
Protestors gather in Tel Aviv at the weekend to protest military operations (MEE / Oren Ziv)

Since the Israeli attack on Gaza started in early July, left-wing activists have held demos in center Tel Aviv every weekend - and last Saturday was no exception. 

In all the demos, right-wing protesters have gathered near by, shouting racists slogans and attacking the activists. Last week, a few activists were injured at the end of the demo, and right wing protesters followed activists to their homes and attacked them. 

Last Saturday, as protesters were starting to gather in Habima square in central Tel Aviv, policemen approached anyone who was wearing black or holding a sign, saying he or she had to leave the area  - as there was no permission for the demo. 

About 300 protesters did gather in the area, with the police stating to push and arrest people.

As the police evicted the protesters from the square into a small street, people were shouting "Jews and Arabs refuse to by enemies" and "In Gaza and in Sderot children want to live".

In the street behind the square, policemen arrested 17 activists, violently taking them into a police van and driving them to a far police station.

After the arrest, the protest marched to a park near by.

One protester told us" We came here every week to protest against the war, and to say there will be no solution with force, only by agreement"

He added: "In previous weeks we were attacked by right wing protesters, but this week the police deiced not to allow us to gather, and it is clear that it is part of a bigger process to limit the freedom of speech of army one who speaks against the government"

As the protest march arrived at the park, people began leaving quickly, fearing right wing protesters might show up, and attack them. One of the organizers asked "Please leave in groups, we don't want any one got get attacked, don't walk alone in the area"   

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