- Starmer advocates permanent Gaza ceasefire
- Labour divided over Middle East
- SNP seeks ceasefire discussion
Ahead of a pivotal Commons vote that may reignite divisions within Labour regarding its stance on the conflict, Sir Keir Starmer has advocated for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.
Sir Keir Starmer advocated for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza prior to a Commons vote that could potentially reopen Labour divisions on the matter.
The Labour leader, who had just returned from a summit with prominent German politicians, stated that the subject of every discussion was how to resolve the crisis in the Middle East.
“Not merely temporarily, not for a brief interval, but indefinitely. The establishment of a lasting ceasefire. Currently, that is what must occur. “At this time, the fighting must cease,” he declared at the Scottish Labour conference.
A day prior to this, the Scottish Labour Party voted unanimously in favour of a motion demanding an urgent end to the conflict.
A Labour source, however, indicated that this was not what Sir Keir was endorsing, and that his remarks were made in the context of a ceasefire that was both mutually agreed upon and long-lasting, in addition to the release of captives.
Labour Divided Over Gaza Ceasefire
Labour has been riven by Sir Keir’s stance on the Middle East conflict, as numerous Members of Parliament (MPs) demand that he unequivocally support an immediate cessation of hostilities.
There are concerns that a new dispute will ensue this week when members of parliament vote on a second motion led by the SNP calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Sir Keir’s preference for “humanitarian pauses” in the November vote resulted in the resignation of ten shadow ministers and parliamentary assistants who opposed a complete cessation of hostilities.
Labour leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s denial of a two-state solution and advocacy for a “sustainable ceasefire” have contributed to a hardening of the party’s stance, which was previously moderate.
The Labour leadership has yet to confirm how it will ask its MPs to vote on the SNP motion. On Sunday, David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, speculated that it would be contingent on the wording.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s characterization of the SNP motion as “perfectly reasonable” has placed pressure on the party.
Sarwar’s Struggle for Unified Stance
Mr. Sarwar is personally under pressure to compel his two Scottish Labour Members of Parliament—Michael Shanks and Ian Murray—to support the SNP motion.
“There’s not much difference” between the Labour position in Scotland and the United Kingdom
In the past, he downplayed perceived distinctions between his stance and that of Sir Keir.
In an interview with Sunday Morning With Trevor Philips (SMTP), he explained that Scottish Labour’s motion did not demand a “unilateral” cessation of Israeli aggression in Gaza, but rather “a bilateral cessation of violence.”
He stated that an armistice must not only put an end to the violence and rocket fire emanating from Gaza but also to the violence and rocket fire itself.
It also encompasses the expeditious liberation of hostages, the facilitation of humanitarian assistance, and the establishment of a two-state resolution.
Regarding the position’s correlation with the Scottish Labour Party and the UK Labour Party, I am of the opinion that there is minimal distinction.
Instead of focusing on the position of two opposition parties, Mr. Sarwar suggested that the subject of next week’s debate should be how to get a majority agreement in parliament.
“The Conservatives maintain their majority in parliament,” he stated.
“How do we garner a majority that conveys a unified message to Israel and Palestine that an immediate cessation of violence is required?” Our objective should be to accomplish that, not to turn this into a debate concerning two opposition parties.”
Additionally, Mr. Lammy attempted to dispel the notion that the party was divided on the matter: “I completely comprehend that Scottish colleagues wish for the fighting to cease at this time; we have been expressing this view for weeks, thus we concur with them.”
“However,” he continued, “I’m not certain that the discourse circulating on Twitter indicates that it’s sustainable.
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“It is possible to achieve a moratorium for several days. We desire for the armistice to be permanent and to progress in the direction of a diplomatic resolution. A political resolution is the sole means to terminate this.”
He refused to speculate on how members of parliament might vote, stating, “I have not seen the motion. And we have not yet put it down; we will examine it according to our custom in Parliament, and proceed from there.”
The SNP has invited Sir Keir to a conference.
Now, in a letter to Sir Keir, the SNP has extended an invitation to a meeting to debate the vote.
Sunday’s publication of a letter to the leader of the Labour Party from the SNP at Westminster stated that the death toll in the conflict has surpassed 29,000, and that thousands more children have been lost in the conflagration. “It is long past time that the entire international community collectively said ‘stop’.”
“In the absence of communication from any of your Labour Party colleagues, I am writing to make it clear that I am, of course, open to such a discussion,” he said, alluding to Mr. Sarwar’s remarks. Considering the critical nature of this matter—literally a debate on life and death—the bare minimum that the public would expect from the leaders of the Labour Party and the SNP at Westminster is a discussion regarding this ceasefire motion.
“Therefore, I offer and propose that we convene tomorrow in order to deliberate on the cessation motion initiated on Wednesday. I will adjust the schedule of my personal diary to ensure that this meeting can occur promptly and accommodate flexibility.”
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