London, Thanasis Gavos

Firm in his position that ceasefire is not appropriate at this time in Gaza the leader of the main opposition Labor Party in Britain appeared in a speech at noon in London Sir Keir Starmer.

Sir Kiir made his speech amid intense turmoil and backlash within his party, with dozens of Muslim councilors resigning in protest at the failure to take a clearer stance on Palestinian civilians.

Pleading again for some humanitarian ceasefires, the poll frontrunner to become the UK’s next prime minister said: “A ceasefire freezes any conflict as it is at the moment.”

Consequently, he added, a ceasefire would leave Hamas’ infrastructure and operational capabilities unaffected.

He added, however, that Israel has an obligation to respect international law in the context of its response, including the permission to supply fuel and medicine to Gaza.

This position came as a clarification of his interview in which it was considered that he gave a green light from his side to Israel to block such supplies to Gaza.

What Mr Starmer added to his remarks so far, in what analysts said was an attempt to soften the backlash in the party, was sharp criticism of Israel over settlements in the West Bank, which he described as “unacceptable and illegal”. , as well as the view that Palestinians should not be forced to leave the northern Gaza Strip.

Mr Starmer avoided answering the question after his speech about whether he thought Israel was currently acting within the framework of international law, commenting that it would not be “wise” for a politician to make such a judgement. He noted, however, that respect for the law is not an optional commitment for Israel’s armed forces.

Asked whether the war in the Middle East was “tearing his party in two”, the Labor leader said there was unity on critical issues such as easing the suffering in Gaza, even if there were differing views on how to achieve this. .

On his way out of the building where he gave his speech, Sir Keir Starmer was confronted by a gathering of friends of Palestine who, despite efforts by the police to push them back, reached the official opposition leader’s car shouting slogans.