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Pro-Israel activist says he was victim of flying kick during rally

Jonathan Hoffman said he thought he ‘would be trampled or crushed in a stampede’ after the incident

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2FMWWA0 London, UK. 11th May, 2021. Free Palestine protestors clash with police at Save Sheikh Jarrah demonstration in Whitehall, London on Tuesday 11th May 2021. Credit: Lucy North/Alamy Live News

Footage appears to show a man landing on pro-Israel activist Jonathan Hoffman causing him to fall to the ground during a rally in central London. 
 
Mr Hoffman, 68, told MailOnline he had felt “very scared and thought I would be trampled or crushed in a stampede” after the incident on Tuesday. 
 
But the activist, who had attended a small counter demonstration, said he was helped up including, apparently, by “two girls from the anti-Israel protest.”
 
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among thousands of protesters who took the streets on Tuesday to show solidarity with Palestinians and protest against family evictions in east Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah area.
 
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of further protests planned in central London on Saturday. 
 
“A policing plan is in place throughout the day. Anyone coming into London to protest must make sure their gathering is lawful, with a risk assessment carried out by the organiser,” the force said.
 
As Israel responded to the Hamas rocket fire with strikes on Gaza, the death toll rose to 119 Palestinians and eight Israelis according to officials on both sides.

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