Police ban protest in Paris against Israel's Gaza offensive

French police have banned a protest against Israel's Gaza offensive that was due to take place in Paris today, following several similar rallies that turned violent.

The ban, announced by police yesterday, comes in the wake of clashes earlier this month at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in which some protesters shouted anti-Semitic slogans and fought with police. Two of the rallies had been banned but went ahead anyway.

Following yesterday's announcement, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called on the organisers to cancel the rally. "I urge the organisers to abandon the event on Saturday," he said, accusing them of taking a "high-risk path" if they went ahead.

But a lawyer representing the organisers said they had lodged a legal challenge against the ruling.

"The government is trying to ban a fundamental right", said Omar Alsoumi, an organiser of the protest and member of the Palestinian Youth movement.

On Wednesday, thousands protested peacefully in Paris against the offensive in Gaza. Police said the rally gathered about 14,500 people, while organisers put the figure at 25,000.