Gloucester councillor quits over Labour Leader's Israel comments

Another Labour councillor has quit his party over Sir Keir Starmer's comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Councillor Usman Bhaimia, who represents Barton and Tredworth ward on Gloucester City Council, said he will continue to serve as an independent.

Sir Keir told LBC radio last week that "Israel has the right" to withhold power and water from the Gaza strip.

Mr Bhaimia said he "fundamentally disagrees" with the Labour leader. The Labour Party has declined to comment.

His resignation follows that of Stroud District Councillor Jessie Hoskin who also quit the party over Sir Keir's comments.

The councillor of 20 years said in his resignation letter: "Where is his belief that all human life is sacred and equal? Where is the empathy for Palestinians who have lost their loved ones, their homes and their futures?

"I join the huge scores of other Labour councillors up and down the country and unequivocally remove my affiliation with the Labour Party with immediate effect - we are livid and let down by the lack of consistency, the double standards and hypocrisy."

Sir Keir's interview took place days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a series of attacks on Israel from Gaza, killing hundreds and taking many people hostage.

The political makeup of Gloucester City Council is now 22 Conservatives, 12 Liberal Democrats, three Independents and two Labour councillors.

On Tuesday evening, a huge blast hit the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, killing 500 people.

US President Joe Biden, who arrived in Israel earlier, said the hospital attack "appears" to have been caused "by the other team".

Israel said the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants.

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