Keir Starmer facing pressure over Gaza stanceon October 25, 2023 at 8:38 am

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to meet Muslim MPs amid tensions over the party’s stance on the Israel-Gaza war.

It comes after an Islamic centre visited by Sir Keir on Sunday said a statement he released after the event had “gravely misrepresented” them.

Sir Keir has faced criticism since seeming to say Israel had the “right” to cut off water and energy to Gaza.

He later clarified his position, saying he meant only that the country had a right to self-defence.

At least 19 Labour councillors have already quit the party over the comments, while some MPs have also been critical about the position the leadership has taken.

More than 30 Labour MPs, as well as former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent, have backed a call for a ceasefire in the region.

However, last week Sir Keir refused to support the position, instead saying Israel had the right to defend itself.

In Oxford, Labour has lost its majority on the council, after eight councillors resigned from the party.

Sources within the party have confirmed to the BBC that Sir Keir is set to meet some of his own Muslim MPs on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

In an interview with LBC on 11 October, Sir Keir was asked whether it was “appropriate” for Israel to cut off the supply of power and water to Gaza as part of a siege of the territory.

“I think that Israel does have that right,” he said. “Obviously everything should be done within international law, but I don’t want to step away from the core principles that Israel has a right to defend herself.”

On Sunday, amid criticism over the comments, Sir Keir visited the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff and met congregants and leaders from the Muslim community.

In a statement later posted to X, formerly Twitter, he said he had been “deeply moved” to meet people at the centre and “hear their pain and horror at the suffering of civilians in Gaza”.

“I made clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. International law must be followed.”

He also said he had “repeated our calls for all hostages to be released, more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, for the water and power to be switched back on, and a renewed focus on the two state solution”.

But late on Tuesday, a response was issued on behalf of the centre by the Muslim Council of Wales expressing “dismay” at the statement and apologising for the “hurt and confusion” that the decision to host the visit had caused “many in the Muslim community”.

“Our intention was to raise the concerns of the Muslim community around the suffering of Palestinians,” it said.

“There was a robust and frank conversation which reflected the sentiments Muslim communities are feeling at this time.

“We wish to stress Keir Starmer’s social media post and images gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit.

“We affirm, unequivocally, the need for a free Palestine.”

Asked about the statement, Labour’s shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC it was right for Sir Keir to meet with Muslim and Jewish communities to “listen to their concerns”.

He added that the Labour leader had “reaffirmed” party policy off the back of the visit.

Last week, Sir Keir wrote to all Labour councillors reiterating his belief that Israel should follow international law and allow more humanitarian access to Gaza.

It followed resignations by councillors in Cambridge, Nottinghamshire, Gloucester, and elsewhere.

Oxford councillor Imogen Thomas – who quit the Labour Party last week – told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there is “responsibility on a leader who could be the next prime minister to be entirely unambiguous on this”.

She said she did not believe Sir Keir was advocating for the breaking of international law, but accused him of “not talking about some of the atrocities we are seeing”.

Comments from Labour leader Anas Sarwar also appear to be at odds with the position of Sir Keir.

On Tuesday he accused Israel of a “clear breach” of international law in Gaza, telling the BBC there is “no justification for the withholding of essential supplies”.

Sir Keir has not explicitly said Israel has broken international law but has stressed it must be followed.