BREAKING: French government bans pro-Palestine protests

France's socialist government has provoked outrage by becoming the first in the world to ban protests against Israeli action in Palestine, said Paris-based journalist Peter Allen.

In what is viewed as an outrageous attack on democracy, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said mass demonstrations planned for the weekend should be halted.

Cazeneuve said there was a "threat to public order", while opponents said he was "criminalising" popular support of the Palestinian people.

Thousands planned to march against the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, calling for an immediate end to hostilities in which civilians including many children have been killed.

Cazeneuve fears there might be a repeat of the fights between ultra Jewish vigilantes and pro-Palestinians which happened after a demonstration last Sunday.

Referring to the Paris march, Mr Cazeneuve said, "I consider that the conditions are not right to guarantee security."

He went on to welcome a legal procedure instigated by the Paris police prefecture to ban the march, despite it already being widely advertised.