Muslim community mounts pressure on Starmer to support ceasefire

Pressure is mounting on UK Labour leader Keir Starmer to support a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel's bombardment of the besieged enclave claims the lives of more Palestinians.

Dozens of Labour councillors signed an open letter demanding that Starmer support a ceasefire, while the opposition leader also met with Muslim MPs who have grown concerned by the party's rhetoric around Gaza.

Alia Khan, a councillor from Luton who signed the open letter, said she did so because she disagreed with the Labour leadership's "handling of the situation".

"Calling for an immediate ceasefire is not difficult, and the Labour Party has avoided doing that for no reason," said Khan.

"The tacit support it is giving to Israel is essentially giving a green light to what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza, and that needs to stop."

It comes after several councillors resigned from the Labour Party over comments Starmer made that appeared to show him supporting Israel's decision to cut off electricity and water in Gaza.

Read more: Muslim councillors call on Starmer to demand ceasefire in Gaza