ISRAEL blasted British critics of its war ahead of a pro-Iranian “hate rally” being held in London today.
Thousands are expected to turn up to the static demo to yell anti-Israeli slogans after a march was banned.
British politicians have slammed the event and the Israeli government has also now weighed in.
Foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said Iran is “the most extremist regime in the world, spreading terror and violence for decades in the Middle East and beyond”.
He added: “We attacked now because we had intelligence that they are about to take their nuclear programme very deep underground to a place immune from airstrikes.
“People can criticise us but we are quite confident that we are 100 per cent right. When diplomacy does not work, you need to act.”
Today’s rally is to mark Al-Quds Day, an annual event in support of Palestine that was first held in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Politicians successfully urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ban the event due to the antisemitism and extremism feared to be on show.
It is the first time a protest march has been banned since 2012 when an English Defence League protest was axed.
But there is no law banning static demos so 12,000 are expected to attend the event at the Albert Embankment on the south bank of the Thames.
It has been organised by The Islamic Human Rights Commission, which described slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “role model” who “stood on the right side of history”.
Counter protests are taking place on the other side of the river, with the Met Police using the Thames as a natural barrier.
Approximately 1,000 officers are due to be on duty.
Meanwhile Mr Sa’ar has also called on the international community to do more to secure the safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
It normally carries a fifth of the world’s oil, but has ground almost to a halt thanks to Iran’s stranglehold.
Mr Sa’ar said it was not just a problem for the US and Israel to deal with.
He explained: “It is a challenge we can overcome, but it is an international issue and the international community must take a strong position against Iran.”
Israel has continued to launch air strikes in the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital Beirut as hostilities with Hezbollah go on.
Images yesterday showed buildings destroyed in Dahieh with debris littering the floor.
