19 October 2023 , 13:03
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Keir Starmer has written to Labour councillors after a string of resignations over the party's messaging on the intensifying Israeli-Hamas conflict in the Middle East.
The Labour leader stressed the need for the immediate "access of food, water, electricity and medicine" to the Gaza Strip as its people face a humanitarian emergency. In an attempt to ease tensions within Labour, he also praised councillors for their work across faiths to "kick out hate" in communities and said he understood their "important role".
Outlining the party's position, Mr Starmer told them "you have my word" that Labour will call for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and for "all parties to act in accordance with international law, and protect civilian life".
He added: "Labour has been clear; Israel has the right to defend herself, to keep its people safe and bring hostages home. Israel's defence must be conducted in accordance with international law. We are also clear, the pain and suffering that has been unleashed is the responsibility of the terrorists of Hamas. Hamas are not the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people are not Hamas."
Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday he also reiterated that "medicine, food, fuel and water must get into Gaza immediately" and for international law to be followed. The comments follow the resignation of several councillors in protest at his remarks in a radio interview last week where he appeared to suggest that Israel "has the right" to cut off power and water to Palestinians living in Gaza.
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Questioned on LBC he said "Israel has the right to do everything it can to get those hostages back safe and sound" with Hamas bearing responsibility. Asked whether a "siege" was appropriate with the cutting off power and water, he added: "I think Israel does have the right. It is an ongoing situation. "Obviously everything should be done within international law but I don't want to step away from the sort of core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself and Hamas bears responsibility."
On Monday evening Amna Abdullatif, a councillor in Ardwick in Manchester since 2019, announced she would quit Labour after Mr Starmer "horrifying comments about Israel having the right to withhold fuel, water, food and electricity from the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, effectively endorsing a war crime".
Two Labour councillors in Oxford - Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif - also quit the party last week. Ms Aziz told the Oxford Mail: "Like all decent minded people we are devastated by the atrocities carried out by Hamas in Israel. However, we were appalled by the words of Keir Starmer."
The BBC also reported Gloucester City councillor Usman Bhaimia has resigned from Labour, saying he "fundamentally disagrees" with Mr Starmer. He said: "Where is his belief that all human life is sacred and equal? Where is the empathy for Palestinians who have lost their loved ones, their homes and their futures? "I join the huge scores of other Labour councillors up and down the country and unequivocally remove my affiliation with the Labour Party with immediate effect - we are livid and let down by the lack of consistency, the double standards and hypocrisy."
Asked about Mr Starmer comments on LBC last week, a Labour spokesman insisted on Wednesday there were "overlapping questions and answers" and he was speaking about Israel's right to defend itself - rather than to cut off power and water.
The spokesman added: "What you saw was Keir say that everything had to be done in accordance with international law, that has been consistent in all of the interviews that he has done." Pressed on whether he was happy for councillors who disagreed with his stance to quit the party, the spokesman said: "No, I wouldn't characterise it that way at all.
"What I would say is that this is obviously an issue where we know people have strong feelings, and it's for individuals to make their own decisions in these circumstances. "What we have done is set out clearly what is the Labour front bench position on all of this, that's why we have taken the time to engage with Labour representatives at all levels, to be able to have that conversation."
In an attempt to ease tensions the Labour leader's chief-of-staff Sue Gray and David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, held urgent talks with council leaders on Monday, according to ITV News. A source in the Labour leader's office confirmed a meeting had been held with elected representatives where "emotion and strong views" were expressed but said they "did not recognise" reports it had been "heated."
"The meeting was one of a series with elected representatives, as you would imagine from a serious grown up government-in-waiting on such a difficult and sensitive issue," they said. "Of course there was emotion and strong views but that is what you would expect. "It was acknowledged that councillors are on the front line dealing with some difficult circumstances. Support was offered, and our position made clear."