British police deployed 700 officers in Birmingham on Thursday ahead of the UEFA Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa F.C. and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The increased security is being employed despite the police ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the game.

Anti-Israel activists could be seen gathering around Villa Park hours before the start of the match, with Palestinian flags and political placards displayed at the scene, BirminghamLive reported.

One sign on a lamppost read, “No war games allowed,” the report added.

Five demonstrations are scheduled to take place near the stadium from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We know protests by different groups will take place on the day, and we have plans in place which balance the right to protest with our

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