Keir Starmer's Israel-Gaza comment 'hurt' Muslims - Anas Sarwar

Anas Sarwar says Sir Keir Starmer has "clarified" his comments

Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar has said some of Sir Keir Starmer's remarks about Israel have "hurt" Muslims and all "peace-loving" people.

The UK party chief was attacked after he seemed to say Israel had the "right" to cut off water and energy to Gaza.

He has resisted pressure from within his party to call for a ceasefire, instead backing humanitarian pause" to allow aid into Gaza.

Mr Sarwar said he wanted to go "further" and supported a ceasefire.

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He also called for the immediate release of hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid and a "meaningful" peace process.

"We need to see peace and we need to see the protection of life and we need to see the following of international law," Mr Sarwar told BBC Scotland News.

"That's not currently happening. We're having the slaughtering of innocent individuals every day which is completely unacceptable."

He said Sir Keir had "clarified" his comments, made to LBC on 11 October.

The Scottish Labour leader said the comments caused "a lot of anguish, a lot of hurt, a lot of pain" after spreading like "wildfire" on social media.

"I think it's important so say not just to Muslim communities but any peace-loving citizen across the country," he added.

Labour rebellion

More than 50 Labour MPs and 250 councillors have also backed a ceasefire, with about 30 councillors resigning from the party over the leadership's position on the war.

Sir Keir has instead called for a humanitarian pause to allow aid in and people out of the war zone.

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.

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Hamas would be "emboldened" by a ceasefire and start preparing for future violence immediately, Sir Keir claimed.

He said a humanitarian pause was the "only credible approach", which could see "the urgent alleviation of Palestinian suffering".

"Aid distributed quickly. Space to get hostages out," he said.

"And it is why it is also a position shared by our major allies in the US and the EU."

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.

"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."

A spokesman for the Labour leader later said he had only meant to say Israel had a general right to self-defence.