The Community Camp 4 Palestine at Nine Elms Pavilion in London - CC4Pal/Instagram

The Community Camp 4 Palestine (CC4Pal), situated at Nine Elms Pavilion on the Thames embankment, was set up last September, calling for an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

The camp comprises of tents, an open kitchen area and communal seating – as well as banners, posters and Palestinian flags.

The banners on display include “End the siege on Gaza now”, “this is your genocide”, “stop the genocide”, “free Palestine” and “stop arming Israel”.

The camp was set up last September to call for an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza - CC4Pal/Instagram

One resident who lives at nearby Embassy Gardens told The Telegraph: “We suffer a lot from the encampment. I try to avoid walking that way where the encampment is.

“We hear a lot of chanting and noise. They [the activists] seem to vandalise the local area with a lot of stickers, banners and graffiti, which I find distressing.

“We have complained to the council, but we have been told that they can’t do anything about it.”

Another said in a written complaint: “I am appalled to see that Wandsworth council continues to allow, surely what is an illegal encampment by the river near the American Embassy.”

A third said: “I am distressed every time I walk past here. I feel intimidated and take exception to the statements being made.”

Another added: “The posters have increased in number over the last few months. This is totally unacceptable.”

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) is calling for the encampment to be closed down. The group has pointed out that displaying Palestinian flags and banners in a public place requires planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

One of the banners at the encampment says: ‘Stop arming Israel’ - Ash Hussain

Caroline Turner, the director of UKLFI, wrote in a letter to Andrew Travers, the interim chief executive of Wandsworth council: “Wandsworth council is the owner of the land on which the activists have set up their ‘encampment’. It is therefore the council’s responsibility to evict the protesters.”

She added: “The council does not appear to have taken all reasonable steps to secure the removal of the flags or banners on its land and therefore has committed and is continuing to commit criminal offences.”

Ms Turner told The Telegraph: “The council continues to drag its feet in removing the illegal encampment, which has distressed and intimidated Jewish and other residents when they walk past.

“It is Wandsworth council’s responsibility to remove this encampment with its flags, offensive posters and slogans. We hope they will fulfil their duty and start the removal process.”

The Telegraph understands that the encampment will remain in place until there is a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

UK Lawyers for Israel pointed out that displaying Palestinian flags and banners in a public place requires planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Ash Hussain

In a petition set up last week, CC4Pal hit back and called on council leaders to keep the camp in place in order to “protect rights to peaceful assembly and expression”.

They added: “Our human and civic rights permit us to peacefully protest and express opposition to what the world’s highest courts have deemed to be a plausible genocide and war crimes, being committed by Israel in Gaza.

“We are a diverse and inclusive group of concerned volunteers, moved by our collective humanity to act against Israeli crimes in Palestine.”

A spokesman for Wandsworth council said: “Throughout the period this protest has been present on the site, we have and continue to engage with the protesters and the community.

“We also work closely with the police to ensure that any instances of anti-social behaviour or other criminal behaviour is reported and dealt with.”

Last year, pro-Palestinian protesters camped outside Labour-run Hackney council for several months, demanding civic chiefs “divest Israeli Arms” and break a long-held twinning relationship with Haifa in Israel.

Encampments and sit-ins also sprang up across British universities last year, including at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol and University College London.

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