Hamas called for a “Day of Rage” against the assault on Gaza, and thousands answered the call across the Middle East. Friday prayers were traditionally the spark for violence during the Palestinian intifada, and Israeli police were deployed in force in Jerusalem, but still came under fire from masked youths hurling petrol bombs and stones. Riot police replied with teargas and sealed off approaches to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

In Ramallah, Palestinian anger saw protests by groups supporting Hamas and its bitter rival Fatah. The two sides clashed later, and Palestinian police needed teargas and rubber bullets to restore order. Over the border in Jordan, thousands gathered in the centre of the capital Amman for an officially authorised march to the Israeli embassy. The protestors demanded Israel withdraws from Gaza, but also that Amman cuts its with the Jewish state, which were first agreed in 1994.

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