HUNDREDS of a people marched through Brighton yesterday as they protested the escalating violence in the Middle East.

Protestors took to the streets with placards and banners to call on the British Government to condemn the actions of the Israeli Defence Force and highlight human rights abuses against the Palestine community.

The demonstration began at the Clock Tower in Brighton at 6pm, where speakers young and old gave passionate speeches about “devastating” violence and called for peace and understanding.

The Argus: Protestors marched through Brighton city centreProtestors marched through Brighton city centre

Some campaigners climbed onto a ledge just above the base of the tower and hung a banner which read: “Save Shekih Jarrah – Stop All Israeli Ethnic Cleansing.”

While it was not planned, demonstrators then marched down North Street to the Old Stein and then to Brighton Station before returning to the Clock Tower at around 8pm.

Protesters could be heard chanting "Free Palestine” and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The Argus: Protestor marching through Brighton city centreProtestor marching through Brighton city centre

Photos show the moment hundreds of protestors flew Palestinian flags and stopped in the road at the bottom of North Street to display a banner which read: “No annexation, no occupation.”

Stewards wearing black high-vis jackets were present, handing out masks and hand-sanitiser among the crowd.

Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign thanked everyone who attended and said they would continue to demonstrate as long as the violence in Israel continues.

The latest violence in Israel began after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem wounding scores of people.

Israeli police then clashed with Palestinian protesters outside Jerusalem’s Old City during the holiest night of Ramadan (Sunday) in a show of force.

The crackdown came after police had blocked busloads of men, women and children headed to Jerusalem for prayer at Islam’s third holiest site.

Further scenes of violence overnight Monday which saw twenty people including nine children killed in the Gaza Strip according to Palestinian health officials.

At least seven members of one family, including three children, were killed in an explosion in northern Gaza.

Israel said two women were killed by rockets fired from Gaza that hit their homes in the southern city of Ashkelon – the first Israeli deaths in the current violence.

At least 10 other Israelis have been wounded since Monday evening.

**All photos by Francesca Thornton Photography**