Israel-Gaza: Keir Starmer refuses to back ceasefire
Sir Keir Starmer has said a ceasefire in Gaza is not the “correct position” to take on the conflict with Israel “at this stage”.
The Labour Party leader said while he “understood” the calls for both sides to lay down weapons he did “not believe that is the correct position now, for two reasons”.
It came as he gave speech on his party’s foreign policy position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas which saw him mobbed by pro-Palestinian protestors outside the venue.
Speaking at Chatham House in London, Starmer said: “A ceasefire always freezes any conflict in the state where it currently lies.
“That would leave Hamas with the infrastructure and capability to carry out the sort of attack we saw on October 7… Hamas would be emboldened and start preparing for future violence immediately.”
“It is this context which explains my second reason, which is that our current calls for pauses in the fighting for clear and specific humanitarian purposes, and which must start immediately is right in practice as well as principle,” he added.
“In fact it is – at this moment– the only credible approach that has any chance of achieving what we all want to see in Gaza – the urgent alleviation of Palestinian suffering.”
His appearance followed mounting pressure on the Labour leadership as increasing numbers of shadow cabinet ministers have backed calls for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile Middlesborough MP Andy McDonald was suspended by Labour for referring to the phrase “between the river and the sea”, which a party spokesman called “deeply offensive”.
But McDonald said the phrase was part of a “heartfelt plea” for peace in the Middle East.
Asked about party discipline, Starmer denied he had suspended collective responsibility – the principle that members of a frontbench team adopt a unified position – but did not indicate sackings could be imminent, despite the apparent disagreements.
Starmer also said his party would back the creation of a two-state solution in the region, which would see “an Israel where every citizen enjoys the security they need… and a viable Palestinian state where the Palestinian people and their children enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that we all take for granted.”
“My Labour Party will fight for that cause. We will work with international partners towards the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated, just and lasting peace,” he said.
The Labour leader also stressed his position “has always been that Israel must submit to the rules of international law” and that water, medicine, electricity and fuel must flow into Gaza.
He added: “The right to self-defence is fundamental but it is not a blank cheque.”
Exiting the venue, Starmer’s car was surrounded by pro-Palestinian protestors chanting calls for a ceasefire and claims he was “a liar” and culpable for “genocide”.
Police surrounded the vehicle as demonstrators chanted, waved flags and attempted to obstruct the road, before Starmer departed safely.