Hundreds of Tunisians, including political figures, gathered in the capital Saturday for a demonstration called by the Islamist party Ennahda in support of the Palestinian uprising against Israel.

The demonstrators assembled under close police surveillance in the city's main thoroughfare, Bourguiba Avenue, waving Tunisian and Palestinian flags as well as that of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Ennahda MP Sahbi Atig said: "This is essentially a symbolic action to show our support for the Palestinian cause and uprising."

Houcine Jaziri, who had been in an Ennahda-led coalition government, said: "We are all united behind the Palestinian cause."

At least 70 Palestinians were killed by occupation forces during the recent crackdown including a pregnant mother and teenagers. Meanwhile, Eleven Israelis have been killed.

Palestinians have been protesting for weeks against Israel's attempts to build more settlements in east Jerusalem and force out Arab residents of the city that is meant to be a capital for any future Palestinian state.

Palestinians have been protesting repeated Israeli and illegal Jewish settler attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque and closing the Muslim holy site on a number of occasions to worshippers. The al-Aqsa mosque is one of Islam's holiest sites.

The current wave of protests and repression started in late July when 18-month old toddler Ali Dawabsha was burned to death and three other Palestinians severely injured after their house in the occupied West Bank was set on fire by Israeli settlers.