Two London Labour councillors have become the latest to quit the party over Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on Israel.
The Labour leader said during an interview with LBC that Israel has "the right" to withhold energy and water from Gaza to defend itself from Hamas
Kensington councillor Mona Ahmed resigned on Wednesday saying she “condemned the killing of innocent civilians” and “expected the same” from her party’s leadership.
"I am left with no option but to resign the Labour whip and resign from the Party following Keir Starmer's shocking statements earlier this week, which amount to the endorsement of war crimes committed by Israel against civilians in Gaza.
The resignations come after the Labour leader said during an interview with LBC that Israel has “the right” to withhold energy and water from Gaza.
"From the outset, I have condemned the killing of innocent civilians on both sides. I expect the same from our party leadership."
She said she will sit as an Independent councillor.
Hounslow councillor Lara Parizotto also resigned from Labour on Wednesday evening after going to a Palestinian solidarity march the party had advised members not to attend.
"Today, I cannot represent the Labour Party... Over the weekend, I attended a demonstration in solidarity with Palestine, and against apartheid and occupation, which Labour councillors were advised not to attend. I cannot call out the UK Government for restricting our rights to protest without standing up for the same right on this occasion."
It follows Amna Abdullatif, a councillor in Ardwick, Manchester, saying on Monday she would quit Labour over what she called Sir Keir's "horrifying comments about Israel having the right to withhold fuel, water, food and electricity from the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, effectively endorsing a war crime".
Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif, of Oxford City Council, said they were also resigning from the party for similar reasons.
The Labour leadership has held emergency meetings with councillors amid concern more will quit.
Sir Keir's chief of staff, Sue Gray, and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy held talks with council leaders on Monday night.
A source in the Labour leader's office confirmed a meeting had been held with elected representatives where "emotion and strong views". They denied reports it had been "heated."
"The meeting was one of a series with elected representatives, as you would imagine from a serious grown up government-in-waiting on such a difficult and sensitive issue," they said.
"Of course there was emotion and strong views but that is what you would expect.
"It was acknowledged that councillors are on the front line dealing with some difficult circumstances.
"Support was offered, and our position made clear."
