Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing dissent over the party’s stance on the Israel–Hamas war as a number of shadow ministers voiced their support for a ceasefire.
Sir Keir is supporting the Conservative UK Government’s diplomatic push for humanitarian “pauses” in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and for people trapped in the bombarded territory to leave without calling a full ceasefire.
Mr. Cleverly urged people to remember Hamas “habitually embed[s] military capabilities within civilian infrastructure” and it has “consistently bombarded Israel from Gaza from amongst civilian infrastructure” along with other terrorist organisations since Oct. 7.
But the Labour leader has faced disgruntlement from within the party over his support of the government’s position.
On Saturday, a host of frontbench Labour MPs broke ranks with the leadership to voice their support for a ceasefire, either with express endorsements or by sharing a call from the Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME).
Some of the MPs speaking out represent constituencies with prominent Muslim communities.
It comes as Israel continued to pummel Gaza into Saturday in what was said to have been one of the heaviest nights of bombing during three weeks of war.
The Israeli military announced that it was expanding its ground offensive in the vicinity of the Hamas-ruled territory after cutting off communications for its 2.3 million population.
In Britain, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to streets across the country, including London, Manchester, and Glasgow, in support of the Palestinians.
Bradford West MP Naz Shah, the shadow minister for crime reduction, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “What we are seeing is not defence, it is disproportionate attacks on a civilian population.
“I continue to call for a ceasefire to stop the killings of innocent civilians. We cannot be silent.”
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP and shadow minister for devolution, backed LFPME’s post on X, calling for an “immediate ceasefire by all parties,” along with the “unconditional release of all hostages brutally taken by Hamas” and “unfettered humanitarian access” to Gaza.
Ms. Barker shared the post, saying: “I fully support these calls.”
Shadow veterans minister and Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins and Sarah Owen, MP for Luton North and shadow minister for local government, also shared LFPME’s post.
It comes after Imran Hussain, shadow minister for the new deal for working people and MP for Bradford East, wrote on X on Friday that it was “impossible to imagine the horror that families in Gaza are facing” as he demanded a “ceasefire now.”
Sir Keir’s team on Saturday said the party’s position on the matter remained unchanged.
It declined to answer when asked if the shadow ministers pushing publicly for a ceasefire would be able to remain in post, having deviated from Labour’s official position.
The signs of a burgeoning front bench rebellion come after London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar announced on Friday that they were joining the call for a ceasefire.
According to Labour Muslim Network, as of Thursday, more than 250 Muslim Labour councillors had signed a letter to Sir Keir, urging him to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
According to images shared on social media, pro-Palestinian supporters demonstrated on Friday outside the office of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party, an area represented by another shadow minister, Rushanara Ali, in protest at Labour’s stance.
On Wednesday, Muslim Labour MPs used a meeting with Sir Keir in Parliament to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The Labour leader has sought to quell unhappiness over his position on the conflict, having previously appeared to have said that he supported Israel’s right to deprive Gazans of water, food, and fuel in its fightback against Hamas terrorists that killed 1,400 Israelis.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry has claimed more than 7,000 people have been killed inside the 25-mile strip of land since Tel Aviv’s Oct. 7 retaliation started.
Sir Keir’s comments on the siege, which he has since rowed back from, prompted resignations among Labour councillors and angered the party’s MPs, including those on the front benches.
The 193-member world body adopted the resolution by a vote of 120–14 with 45 abstentions, including the UK.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have taken to the streets in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Baghdad, Paris, Wellington, Copenhagen, Rome, and Stockholm.
Mr. Cleverly said on Friday that it’s “perfectly possible to support the Palestinian people, but also to condemn Hamas.
The foreign secretary also urged pro-Palestinian protesters to “be conscious about disinformation and manipulation” on Friday when asked about reported concerns over the risks of protests being hijacked by “Iran and other foreign actors.”
