Sir Keir Starmer has responded to growing pressure within the Labour Party to support a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that while a humanitarian pause was necessary for aid to enter the region and allow civilians to leave, a full ceasefire was not the “correct position” at this time. Citing concerns that a ceasefire would leave Hamas’s infrastructure intact and allow them to plan for future attacks, Starmer stated that his role as the leader of the Labour Party was to defend the “rights of Palestinians caught in the crossfire” while recognizing the need for Israel to defend itself from terrorist attacks.
More than 60 Labour MPs have called on Starmer to take a stronger stance by advocating for a ceasefire, along with mayors, frontbenchers, and over 250 councillors, causing friction within the party. The conflict has also created reverberations among Muslim members, with former shadow minister Andy McDonald’s suspension for alleged “deeply offensive” comments and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s criticism that Starmer’s comments had caused hurt to Muslims and other “peace-loving citizens.”
Starmer’s argument that a humanitarian pause was the only viable solution echoes the position of the UK government, as well as the United States and European Union. While humanitarian pauses last for a short window of time and are solely for the purposes of distributing aid, they do not attempt to achieve long-term political solutions, as noted by the United Nations.
Starmer’s speech attempted to quell tensions within the Labour Party around the conflict, but the risk of shadow ministers and members resigning from the party over its position remains. Starmer’s decision to reject calls for a ceasefire has been met with criticism from the left, with Momentum labeling Starmer’s support for “more war, more bombing and more Palestinian deaths” as “out of touch with his… party and the public at large.”
The conflict has created divisions in the Labour Party, as members and leaders attempt to navigate the question of how to balance support for Palestine with policies that respect Israel’s right to defend itself. With tensions still high in Gaza, a long-term solution remains elusive
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