Defying ban, thousands of anti-Israel protesters gather in Paris

Thousands of anti-Israel protesters are gathering in Paris, defying a police ban on demonstrations announced Friday following a clash with riot police last weekend that trapped hundreds of Jews in two synagogues.

The demonstrators are protesting against Operation Protective Edge, using the event to also chant against the French government and French President Francois Hollande, in particular, for issuing the ban, France 24 reports.

Protesters knock down fences and take over construction site near chateau rouge metro station #gazaprotest pic.twitter.com/UGqpJmX2ky

— Sam Ball (@samwball) July 19, 2014

http://youtu.be/8lpNcAQ9rn4

Hollande has said he will not allow the flare-up in hostilities to spill over into France.

“That’s why I asked the interior minister, after an investigation, to ensure that such protests would not take place,” he said.

Police are using tear gas to disperse the protest.

“Those who do not respect the ban, in support of protests or against them, face the risk of being stopped, arrested and handed over to the courts,” Paris police said in a statement, according to Reuters.