London Mayor Sadiq Khan Defies Labour Leader Keir Starmer In Call For Gaza Ceasefire
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaking to media during a visit to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a Palestinian aid charity in London. Picture date: Friday October 13, 2023. (Press Association via AP Images)
London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined prominent Labour figures on Friday in urging a ceasefire in the growing conflict between Israel and Gaza, intensifying pressure on party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
In a statement released on social media, Kahn said: “A widespread military escalation will only deepen the humanitarian disaster.”
He said: “Many Londoners like me have watched in absolute horror at the death and suffering in Israel and Gaza… Londoner’s family members killed, injured or taken hostage. Lives changed forever, going through unimaginable trauma… Thousands of innocent civilians, men, women and children have already been killed and it is becoming impossible for aid to reach the people who desperately need it.”
“Substantial military escalation is now likely,” he continued, “which will only deepen the humanitarian disaster… I joined the international community in calling for a ceasefire. It would stop the killing and would allow vital aid supplies to reach those who need it in Gaza.”
“Israel has a right to defend itself,” he said. “To target those responsible for the appalling terror attacks of October 7th and take action to retrieve hostages… But no nation, including Israel, has the right to break international law.”
The move is a public and very clear break from the stance of his Labour Party leader, who is scrambling to maintain control of a divided party. Recently, Starmer has been working to placate concerns among Muslim MPs and party grassroots over his past statements concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Although he has shown resistance to joining in the ceasefire appeals, he has echoed Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the United States, and more recently the European Union, in advocating for “humanitarian pauses.”
