Residents want Gaza protest moved

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Residents near the Israeli embassy have called for the protests to be moved following recent violence.

The local residents' association in Kensington, west London, said life had become a "nightmare" since demonstrations began two weeks ago.

Police said 24 people had been arrested on Saturday when people opposed to the Gaza conflict threw missiles at officers guarding the embassy.

Police said they hoped to find a more suitable location for the protests.

John Cookson, chairman of the Old Court House Residents' Association, said: "We are sealed in our homes every night as our street is closed.

We will need to sit down and talk to protest organisers and say, 'enough's enough' Commander Bob Broadhurst

"Businesses like shops and restaurants - already on their knees - are laying off staff.

"All this is going ahead with police permission.

"And the biggest kick in the teeth is that we are picking up the bill in our council tax.

"We have appealed to the Metropolitan Police to switch the protests to Hyde Park but no one is listening to us."

Commander Bob Broadhurst, said: "We will need to sit down and talk to protest organisers and say, 'enough's enough',"

"People have a right to protest, but any reasonable observer would see what is happening and say, 'let's protest somewhere else'."

Confrontations broke out as police tried to move demonstrators from the Israeli embassy gates