Camden's Conservatives have come under fire for "increasing tension" after raising an Israeli flag outside their headquarters.

On social media site X, @CamdenTories posted a picture of three members, Marx de Morais, David Douglas and Gav Chambers under an Israeli flag on Monday evening (October 23).

Beside the image they said: "Today, we proudly raised the Israeli flag at our Conservative party office as a symbol of solidarity and support for the people of Israel.

"Our hearts go out to all those affected by the current situation, and we stand for a hopeful future for all. God bless Israel!"

On October 7 the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas sent fighters across the border into Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented strike, murdering revellers at a music festival as well as people living in kibbutzes near the border.

More than 1,000 people were killed and some 200 hostages taken into Gaza.

The Israeli state government retaliated with air strikes on Gaza, killing and injuring thousands of Palestinian civilians and cutting off food, water and electricity to the region.

The Met is making reassurance patrols around synagogues and mosques in London, including Hampstead as a result of tensions.

Responding to the Conservatives' post, some supported it while others were unhappy.

@atiqmalikawan said: "You should not fly the Israeli flag as it is deeply unjust in the wider context and it will surely lead to increased local tensions. You’re taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality."

They added: "Also fly a Palestinian flag as this flag represents official British policy, the UK firmly believes in a two-state solution, based on 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. Waving a Palestinian flag is thus an expression of British foreign policy."

Don Williams, chairman of Hampstead and Highgate Conservatives, said the flag had been taken down when he attended the headquarters later in the evening but would "have a word" with his party members.

He said: "A lot of people here have been injured, hurt, have lost loved ones from the attack two weeks ago.

"We don't know why it (Hamas) had to go to such extremes. All civilians don't want a war."

He said local tensions had already increased with "people having their opinion".

"We are not adding to the tension, the tension is already there," he added.

"My room mates when I was studying in Canada were from Palestine who just wanted to get out of the situation, it was nasty.

"I don't want to see people die left right and centre."