Islamic extremists attempted to storm the French Cultural Center in Gaza, according to AFP. The incident happened at a rally of Salafi jihadists protesting against Charlie Hebdo cartoons.
Around 200 radical Islamists tried to enter the building and appeared to be shouting slogans threatening the lives of staff over the publication of Charlie Hebdo cartoons that depict the prophet, according to an AFP photographer.
The latest edition of the magazine showed the Prophet Mohammad on its front cover and was published a week after an attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in France that left ten of its staff dead.
"Today, we are telling France and world countries that while Islam orders us to respect all religions, it also orders us to punish and kill those who assault and offend Islam's Prophet Mohammad," protester Abu Abdallah al-Makdissi told Reuters.
Many of the protesters wore uniforms similar to those worn by Daesh militants and carried black flags.
Hamas had granted permission for the rally to go ahead, in what was seen as a rare move by the organization. Dozens of police were deployed to the rally and outside of the French Cultural Center.
Muslims across the world have been angered at the publication of cartoons showing the Prophet Mohammad in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Islam does not allow pictures of the prophet.
17 people were killed in three days of terrorism in France nearly two weeks ago.
