Mosque hits out at Starmer as Labour leader in showdown on Israel-Gaza conflict
A mosque has accused Keir Starmer of "gravely" misrepresenting a meeting with Muslim leaders amid a backlash over Labour's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
It comes as the Labour leader prepares to meet with Muslim MPs on Wednesday in an attempt to defuse growing anger in the party's ranks over its position. Over 150 Muslim Labour councillors have also written to Mr Starmer demanding the party calls for an immediate ceasefire in the intensifying Middle East conflict.
Over the weekend the Labour leader posted photos of a visit to the South Wales Islamic Centre, saying he was "grateful to hear from the Muslim community". He said he had reiterated calls for all hostages to be released, with more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and for water and power to be switched back on.
Mr Starmer added that he was "questioned by members" and "made clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. International law must be followed". But in a statement published late on Tuesday, the Cardiff mosque said it expressed "dismay" at the post, claiming: "We wish to stress Keir Starmer's social media post and images gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit.
"We affirm, unequivocally, the need for a free Palestine. We implore all those with political authority to uphold international law, and to end the occupation of Palestine." In its statement, the centre said: "We, at the South Wales Islamic Centre, would like to clarify our stance considering the recent visit from Keir Starmer. We acknowledge the serious concerns raised by our communities and we thank you for holding us to account."
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
It added: "Our intention was to raise the concerns of the Muslim community around the suffering of Palestinians, and so we hosted an event initially with local representatives on the issues, and the knowledge of Keir Starmer's attendance was given at short notice. There was a robust and frank conversation which reflected the sentiments Muslim communities are feeling at this time. Members of the community directly challenged Keir on his statement."
Mr Starmer has faced a string of resignations among councillors over his remarks a fortnight ago on LBC Radio where he appeared to suggest Benjamin Netanyhu's government did have the right to cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip. He has since denied ever backing Israel withholding humanitarian aid and sought to clarify his remarks about the siege of territory after sparking concern.
He said on Friday that he wanted to "clarify precisely what I was saying" during the "grave and urgent" situation for more than two million Palestinians. "I know that LBC clip has been widely shared and caused real concern and distress in some Muslim communities, so let me be clear about what I was saying and what I wasn't saying," he said.
"I was saying that Israel has the right to self-defence, and when I said that right I meant it was that right to self-defence. I was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. On the contrary - for over a week now, I have been leading the charge calling for that humanitarian aid to come in."
So far 37 Labour MPs, and former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have backed a call for a ceasefire in the region, a position Mr Starmer as well as the Government are not supporting. Rosena Allin-Khan, who left the Labour leader's frontbench during a reshuffle last month, said this week: "While innocent children are indiscriminately killed, we have a duty to call it out and to act. We need a ceasefire now."
And in a letter on Tuesday more than 150 members of the Labour Muslim Councillors Network wrote to Mr Starmer calling for a change in the party's position on the conflict. They said: "We the undersigned write to you as Muslim Labour Party councillors, formally calling on the Labour Party to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the humanitarian disaster."
They added: "As Labour councillors elected to serve our constituents, the message we have been hearing repeatedly over the past two weeks is simple - people just want an end to the bloodshed and the loss of innocent life. No nation, no people or community should have to endure collective punishment and the same should be the case for the Palestinian people. We are also clear that hostages held captive must also be returned to their families safely. Therefore, as Labour Party councillors, as members, and as members of the Muslim community we urge the Labour Party to urgently adopt a position of calling for an immediate ceasefire, calling on the UK Government and the international community to act upon this proposal to save innocent human lives."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
