Cllr Asima Shaikh

A LABOUR councillor has stepped down from the party after Sir Keir Starmer refused to condemn Israel’s move to cut power and water to Gaza.

The frontbench at Westminster has repeatedly said that Israel has the right to defend itself following the October 7 attacks on civilians by Hamas which left hundreds dead.

And Mr Starmer, the leader, said on an LBC Radio show that he felt it did have the right to respond by cutting off supplies to Gaza – a move which opponents say is collective punishment and banned in international law.

He has since faced an internal backlash for this support with a wave of councillors resigning or demanding the party changes its stance.

In an email to colleagues explaining her decision ­– seen by the Tribune ­­– Councillor Asima Shaikh, who represents Finsbury Park in the council chamber, said: “I felt obliged to resign from the party because of the failure of the Labour leadership and frontbench to defend international humanitarian law – thereby condoning the commitment of war crimes against the Palestinian people.

“The Labour leadership’s condoning of Israel withholding water and power from the population of Gaza, and its failure to support the call for a ceasefire, puts the Labour Party in a position where it is encouraging atrocities that are war crimes.”

She added: “A party whose leadership encourages such war crimes is not one my conscience would permit me to remain a member of.”

Cllr Shaikh will now sit as an independent councillor and said she will “continue to represent, to the best of my ability, the interests of all the residents and all the communities of Finsbury Park ward.”

Last week Islington South MP Emily Thornberry was repeatedly asked about the legality of the power cut by Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire ­­­– who told her she was not answering the question.

Ms Thornberry said: “I think that Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against terrorism,” adding that her answer was “an appropriate one at this time”.

Islington Council leader Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz said: “We are saddened that Cllr Shaikh has resigned from the Labour Party and, as a result, from the Islington Labour Group.

“Cllr Shaikh has been a great servant to Finsbury Park since being elected and spent many years on the council executive, leading our Community Wealth Building work.

“We hope she will continue to work with us to deliver on the manifesto we were all elected on in May 2022.”

Mr Starmer sent an email to Labour councillors on Wednesday urging them not to leave the party. It said that “this is a terrifying and distressing time for everyone – Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim and Jew”.

On the same day, Mr Starmer said: “Israel’s defence must be conducted in accordance with international law. Civilians must not be targeted.”

He added: “Innocent lives must be protected. There must be humanitarian corridors. There must be humanitarian access, including food, water, electricity and medicines.”

The conflict has led to thousands of deaths within a fortnight, including hundreds of young people killed at a peace music festival by Hamas and civilians in Gaza who died after rocket attacks.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak flew to Israel this week, as did US president Joe Biden.

The vigil at Islington Green

THERE were five minutes of silence at a vigil for peace in Israel and Palestine at Islington Green on Wednesday evening. Organised by Islington Faiths Forum, Islington Hate Crime Forum, and Islington Council, 50 people came out in support of all who have been impacted by the crisis in the Middle East.