- Labour MP Imran Hussain hands in his letter of resignation, in which he details how he was left appalled by Starmer’s approach to the bombardment of Palestinian civilians.
- By calling for a humanitarian pause, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conspicuously portrays a lack of regard for the welfare of Palestinians.
British Labour Member of Parliament, Imran Hussain, has resigned his position as a shadow minister within the Labour Party, voicing his deep-seated disapproval of party leader Keir Starmer’s approach to the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza. In a carefully articulated letter, which he shared on a recent Tuesday evening, Mr. Hussain conveyed his principled decision to step down from his role.
“Over recent weeks, it has become clear that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted,” In his letter to Starmer, Hussain conveyed his apprehensions regarding the scrutiny faced by Starmer from the party’s Muslim members for not endorsing a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“A cease-fire is essential to ending the bloodshed, to ensuring that enough aid can pass into Gaza and reach those most in need, and to help ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages,” Hussain wrote.
He said he was “deeply troubled” by Starmer’s comments in a radio interview where he had endorsed Israel’s cutting off power and water in Gaza – a comment he later clarified – and added that he believed “the party needs to go further and call for a cease-fire”.
Hussain also emphasised that he has ‘unequivocally condemned’ the October 7 attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel.
“I firmly agree that every country has the right to defend itself,” he said, adding: “This however can never become a right to deliberately violate international law on protecting civilians or to commit war crimes.”
Hussain’s decision came in the wake of the resignations of over 10 Labour council leaders and a minimum of 330 councilors. These resignations were driven by Starmer’s steadfast refusal to advocate for a ceasefire. Notably, Starmer’s position has faced censure from prominent figures within the party, such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Starmer has aligned himself with the United Kingdom government’s stance on Gaza, maintaining a position that staunchly adheres to a specific narrative regarding the situation, “Israel has right to defend itself” against the Hamas. However, failed short of calling for a cease-fire despite more than 10,000 Palestinians were killed under Israeli bombardments.
The staggering toll of 10,022 Palestinians, comprising 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have tragically been murdered. In contrast, official statistics reveal the Israeli death count to be nearly 1,600.
Sunak Calls for a Humanitarian pause
By calling for a humanitarian pause, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conspicuously showcases a lack of regard for the welfare of Palestinians. A humanitarian pause, by its definition, signifies a brief intermission in a military offensive. Nevertheless, one must question the merit of temporarily halting the barrage of destruction in the enclave to provide sustenance to Palestinians, only to blow them to smithereens once they’ve been fed.
Many British politicians are currently under pressure to prioritize the well-being of Palestinian lives. This irony arises from their positions of authority, which leads them to issue statements aimed at appeasing the British public. The majority of the British public are pro-Palestinian, as evidenced by the numerous letters addressed to politicians, petitions, and protests demanding an end to what the United Nations has declared as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
