Keir Starmer says he understands calls for Gaza ceasefire

Sir Keir Starmer: Hamas would have the "infrastructure and capability" to carry out further attacks if a ceasefire is called.

By Kate Whannel
Political reporter

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he understands calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, but argued it was not the "correct position" at the moment.

More than 60 Labour MPs have called for a ceasefire, but Sir Keir insisted his stance of calling for a humanitarian pause was "the only credible approach".

He said a pause would allow aid to get in to Gaza and for hostages to leave.

He argued that a ceasefire would leave Hamas's infrastructure intact, enabling them to carry out future attacks.

Addressing an audience in London, the Labour leader had sought to quell the growing tensions in his party over the conflict.

Mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and 15 frontbenchers are among those who have diverged from the official party line on the issue.

At least 250 councillors have also called for a ceasefire, with around 30 councillors resigning from the party over the leadership's position on the war.

Meanwhile, Andy McDonald has been suspended as a Labour MP, over what the party described as "deeply offensive" comments at a pro-Palestinian rally.

Following his speech, Sir Keir was repeatedly asked if Labour frontbenchers diverging from the party position would be sacked.

He said the party was unified on wanting to see an "alleviation of this awful situation" and that he would "engage sensitively" with his colleagues' concerns, but did not say that they would be disciplined for breaking with the party line.

Sir Keir said his approach to the conflict had been driven by a desire to defend Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks and the rights of Palestinians "caught in the crossfire".

"While I understand calls for a ceasefire, at this stage I do not believe that is the correct position now.

"Hamas would be emboldened and start preparing for future violence immediately."

He said a humanitarian pause was "the only credible approach that has any chance of achieving what we all want to see in Gaza - the urgent alleviation of Palestinian suffering".

Asked if he believed Israel was abiding by international law, Sir Keir said that would be decided by lawyers in due course and it would be "unwise" for politicians to make premature pronouncements.

As the Labour leader left Chatham House, where he was giving the speech, his car was mobbed by a group of pro-Palestine demonstrators.

Police cleared a path for the car as the protestors shouted and drummed on the windows.

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Police officers remove a protester trying to block Sir Keir's car following the speech

By not backing a full ceasefire, the Labour leader is aligned with the UK government, as well as the US and EU.

Compared to a formal ceasefire, humanitarian pauses tend to last for short periods of time, sometimes just a few hours.

They are typically implemented purely with the aim of providing humanitarian support, as opposed to achieving long-term political solutions, according to the United Nations.

As the Labour leader was defending his position, both Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and London Mayor Sadiq Khan reiterated their calls for a ceasefire.

Mr Sarwar also said past comments made by Sir Keir had caused hurt to Muslims and "any peace loving citizen".

Speaking to BBC London, Mr Khan didn't directly criticised his party's leader but said: "I believe in a de-escalation of the violence not escalation, that's why I'm calling for a ceasefire."

Momentum, a left-wing Labour campaign group, dismissed Sir Keir's speech as "fine words" adding: "The truth is is that Starmer's support for more war, more bombing and more Palestinian deaths is wholly out of touch with his own party and the public at large, who overwhelmingly back an immediate ceasefire.

"Those calls will only get louder."

Following the speech, former party leader Jeremy Corbyn posted on X: "I wonder, if the dust ever settles, whether opponents of a ceasefire will look back and reflect on the cost of their inhumanity. We need a ceasefire, now."

Human rights group Amnesty International were also critical, accusing the Labour leader of failing to show "the clear and principled leadership that this decades-old crisis needs".

They said calls for a pause were "vague and unclear" and that Sir Keir should instead back an immediate ceasefire.

More on Israel-Gaza war

On Monday Andy McDonald, a former shadow minister under Jeremy Corbyn, was suspended as a Labour MP over comments he made in a speech at a pro-Palestinian rally.

The MP for Middlesbrough told protesters on Saturday: "We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty."

He said his words were intended as "a heartfelt plea for an end to the killings" in the region.

But the phrase "between the river and the sea" - which refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean - is interpreted by some, including Israel and most Jewish groups, as implicitly calling for the destruction of Israel.

This interpretation is disputed by some pro-Palestinian activists who say that most people chanting it are calling for an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, not the destruction of Israel itself.

A Labour spokesperson said Mr McDonald's comments at the weekend "were deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety".

However, the suspension has outraged the left, who argue Mr McDonald's words had been misrepresented, as well as the Labour Muslim Network.

But the bigger danger for Sir Keir is that by doubling down on rejecting calls for a ceasefire, some shadow ministers beyond the left come under pressure from members and communities and decide to resign, sparking a potential chain reaction.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Paul Bristow has been sacked from his government role as a ministerial aide, after calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

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