Despite calls by the Jewish community to ban an anti-Israel march in central London, several hundreds of people took take part in an annual Islamic rally to mark ‘’Al Quds Day.’’

Organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, the rally is billed as an event that “unites for the freedom of the oppressed in Palestine and beyond.”

Al Quds Day has its origins in anti-Zionism and through the years, the parade through London has become increasingly hostile, with its supporters overtly proclaiming their support for terrorist organisations and calling for the destruction of Israel.

The participants waved Palestinian flags, shouted cries of “end the occupation” and “Boycott Israel” and protested Israel's existence. Some marchers also accused Israel of being responsible for last week fire in a tower in west London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had been urged to cancel the march out of concerns that the march displayed images of anti-Semitism and terrorism. An online petition calling to cancel the march had garnered over 15,000 signatures.

“After the terrible recent terrorist events in Manchester and London, this display of extremism has no place on the streets of the UK,” stated the petition launched by the North West Friends of Israel. “Allowing this march to go ahead will send a worrying message to the UK’s Jewish community and call into question the commitment of the Mayor of London to eradicate extremism and antisemitism.”

However, Khan told members of the British Jewish community that he lacked the authority to do so.

Previous Al Quds Day marches in London have been heavily criticized after participants were seen waving flags of terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

A counter-protest organized by the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (ZFUK) was held Sunday with support from the Jewish Leadership Council, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the World Jewish Congress among others.

Speaking with reference to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Manchester and London, Zionist Federation chairman Paul Charney said: “At times like this, it is more important than ever that we counter any support for extremism and terrorism, and stand together to say that there is no place for this expression of solidarity with terrorists on our streets.

‘’It is imperative that we come in large numbers to end this hate-fest and to show that London will not be divided by those whose sole aim is the promotion of extremism,’’ he said.