Police had prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue and a risk there could be “serious disruption” as congregants attend services on the Jewish holy day.

While the demonstration in Whitehall began largely without incident, a number of arrests for public order offences were made early in the day: one for displaying a placard that suggested support for banned organisations and another for pairing a swastika with the Israeli flag.

Later, a group of protesters – deemed to be made up of more than 1,000 people – attempted to march from the rally but were stopped a short distance away after breaking through a police line to gather at Trafalgar Square.

The square was blocked off by police vans and officers. The demonstrators were told to disperse and leave the area. However, some remained and were arrested for breach of conditions.

Earlier, the Met said that three people had been arrested on suspicion of breaching the conditions put in place near the BBC.

In total there were 65 arrests for breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for support for a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker and one for sexual assault.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, said: “We could not have been clearer about the conditions in place. Protesters were to remain in Whitehall with no march towards the BBC.”

He added that it was “deeply disappointing to see a deliberate effort, involving organisers of the demonstration, to breach the conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall.”

A smaller counter-protest involving pro-Israel supporters also took place near Whitehall while other pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry.