Sir Keir Starmer faces major rebellion over Israel-Gaza stance
Labour leader calls for lasting ceasefire
More than 50 Labour MPs defy Starmer's leadership
Sir Keir Starmer has suffered a major rebellion over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war, with 56 of his Labour colleagues defying him to sign a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The Labour leader has been under pressure from within his own party to take a more critical stance on Israel's actions in Gaza, where more than 200 Palestinians have been killed in the past week.
Starmer has called for a ceasefire that "lasts," but has stopped short of condemning Israel's actions. This has angered many Labour MPs, who believe that the party should be more vocal in its criticism of Israel.
The rebellion is a major test of Starmer's leadership. He has only been in the job for six months, and is already facing calls to resign from some within his own party.
The Labour leader is expected to face further pressure from his MPs in the coming days. The party is due to debate a motion on the Israel-Gaza conflict on Wednesday, and Starmer could face defeat if he does not take a more critical stance on Israel.
Comments