Keir Starmer to set out policy on Israel-Gaza war amid Labour tensions

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to set out his position on the Israel-Gaza war, amid growing tensions within the party over the conflict.

In a speech on Tuesday, Sir Keir is expected to restate his support for "a humanitarian pause" to allow aid into Gaza.

But he will argue a permanent ceasefire would leave Hamas with the capability to carry out more attacks.

A number of senior Labour figures have backed calls for a full ceasefire.

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

More than 35 Labour MPs and 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.

Sir Keir is expected to use his speech to say he understands the desire for a ceasefire but to argue that a permanent ceasefire at this stage would leave Hamas with the infrastructure and capability to carry out more attacks similar to those of 7 October, when gunmen from the organisation entered Israel and killed 1,400 people.

Instead he will repeat calls for "a humanitarian pause".

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.

However, Sir Keir is expected to say a humanitarian pause could also enable diplomatic progress to be made.

Reflecting on his work as a human rights lawyer and as a legal advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, he will argue the only way to end the conflict is through a political process and will reiterate Labour's support for a two-state solution.

The Labour leader is also expected to say that Israel has a right to keep its people safe, within the guidelines of international law, as well a saying vital services in Gaza must be switched on, aid must be ramped up, Israel's military operation must be measured and civilians not permanently displaced.

Sir Keir had previously provoked anger from some within the Labour Party after appearing to suggest Israel had the the right to cut off the supply of power and water to Gaza.

In an interview with LBC on 11 October, Sir Keir was asked whether this was an "appropriate" response by Israel to the Hamas attacks.

"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.

Israel began its bombing campaign in Gaza in retaliation for the cross-border attack by Hamas on 7 October.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says 8,000 people have been killed in the territory since then.

Israel has also cut off electricity and most water, and stopped imports of food, fuel and other goods.

On Monday Mr 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 provoked a backlash from some figures on the left of the party, who argued Mr McDonald's words had been misrepresented, as well as the Labour Muslim Network.