Sadiq Khan Joins Labour MPs in Calling for Ceasefire

The civil war within the Labour Party over the Israel conflict has escalated as London Mayor Sadiq Khan defied party leader Sir Keir Starmer by calling for a ceasefire. Khan joined a quarter of Labour MPs who have broken ranks with Starmer's position on the conflict.

Starmer Faces Backlash for Not Demanding Full Ceasefire

Sir Keir Starmer has faced a violent backlash, particularly from Muslim members of the party, after he stopped short of demanding a full-on ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Instead, he has supported a humanitarian truce to allow aid into Gaza. However, his authority has been further challenged as Sadiq Khan became the most high-profile Labour politician to support ceasefire calls.

Labour MPs Sign Motion Calling for Ceasefire

Almost one in four Labour MPs have signed a Commons motion calling for a ceasefire. The motion, organized by left-wingers, was backed by shadow minister Imran Hussain and joined by 38 colleagues who condemned Israel for waging "collective punishment" on Palestinians.

Starmer's Stance and Criticism

Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism for his stance on the conflict. He initially said that Israel had "the right" to withhold fuel, food, and water from Gaza, but later walked back on those remarks. Shadow environment secretary Steve Reed argued against calling for a ceasefire, stating that Israel has the right to self-defense to protect its citizens.