ATHENS

France on Thursday banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the country, as conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas continues.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, through a directive he sent to provincial authorities, ordered a ban on all pro-Palestinian rallies and arrest of their organizers. He said such rallies could disturb public order.

But despite the ban, several hundred demonstrators gathered at the Place de la République in Paris in support of the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron called on the French people to remain united amid fears of a spillover of the conflict in France, home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities, according to public broadcaster France 24.

The ongoing conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel on Saturday, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.​​​​​​​