The policy change, according to shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, is necessary because the ground situation has “evolved” since the violence started three months ago and is now “intolerable.”
Pressure has been mounting on the party leadership to support an immediate cessation of hostilities in the strip; Sir Keir Starmer had only previously called for “humanitarian pauses” or a “sustainable ceasefire”.
Since the conflict started three months ago, the situation on the ground “has evolved,” according to shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, and it is currently “intolerable.”
“We have put down a motion calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” he informed broadcasters. This is due to the fact that the current state of affairs in Gaza is untenable, with a significant death toll and a large number of people facing famine, and it is evident that the Rafah offensive that is being planned.
According to Mr. Lammy, the stance is consistent with that of the UK’s Five Eyes allies, which include Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, who demanded an expeditious humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza last week.
Labour has clarified its stance on the ceasefire, but it is unclear how this has resulted in a significant shift in opinion.
