MORE than 300,000 pro-Palestine protesters marched towards Whitehall from Russell Square in central London calling for an end to growing conflict in the Middle East on Saturday.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “free, free Palestine,” “occupation no more, Israel is a terrorist state” and “stop bombing Iran.”

Many chanted “shame on you” as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israel group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge.

Today a spokeswoman for the Stop the War Coalition said: “Yet another immense demonstration for Palestine and also this time to demand the US and UK keeps hands off Iran, on the hottest day of the year so far, shows just what a magnificent movement we have built over the past 20 months and that we are not going anywhere, no matter how much the state tries to intimidate and stop us.”

The demonstration came after Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned the situation in the Middle East was “perilous” and urged Iran to negotiate with the US.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal told protesters: “For over 20 months now we have all seen the world turned upside down.

“We have seen our political leaders try to convince us that what we know is right is actually wrong.

“That what we see with our own eyes is not really what it seems.

“That a state slaughtering over 55,000 people and forcibly starving children is not a genocidal state, but a ‘democratic ally’ we should still sell arms to and trade with normally.

“That the people who should be regarded as terrorists and treated accordingly are not the perpetrators of those barbaric crimes, but those who protest against them.”

Israel’s assault on Gaza has displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people and is causing a hunger crisis as it enforces a crippling blockade.