(Bloomberg) — The Israel-Hamas conflict remains a point of contention within the Labour party, prompting Labour leader to address the issue in a speech on Tuesday. In an effort to clarify his stance, Starmer will emphasize the need for a humanitarian pause in the fighting rather than a complete cease-fire. This position sets him apart from other senior Labour politicians who have called for a total halt to the violence.
Notable figures within Labour, including London Mayor and Labour’s Scottish leader Anas Sarwar, have advocated for a cease-fire. Starmer’s alignment with the British and US governments, who also support intermittent “pauses” in the fighting, has led to internal divisions within the party. Furthermore, Starmer took action against one of his Members of Parliament who made comments supportive of Palestine at a rally.
While Starmer acknowledges the desire for a cease-fire, he cautions against prematurely halting the conflict. He argues that a permanent cessation of hostilities at this stage would grant Hamas, a designated terrorist group, the opportunity to launch another attack. Instead, Starmer emphasizes the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza through a temporary pause in the fighting.
In his speech, Starmer will call upon the international community to foster a political process that paves the way for a peaceful two-state solution. Additionally, he will reaffirm Labour’s endorsement of Israel’s right to protect its citizens within the framework of international law.
UK Labour’s David Lammy will travel to the Middle East for discussions on the conflict.
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