By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottingham councillor has resigned from the Labour Party over comments leader Sir Keir Starmer made on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Nadia Farhat, who has represented Leen Valley on Nottingham City Council since May, said she had left the party on Wednesday (October 18).
She becomes one of around a dozen local labour councillors around the country who have stood down from the group following comments the Labour leader made during an interview with LBC Radio last week.
His remarks, suggesting it was appropriate for Israel to withhold water and power from Gaza, have led to anger among some party members, who feel Sir Keir should be condemning Israel’s tactics in their response to attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas.
The Hamas group is based in Gaza and is considered a terror organisation in Israel and the UK. It killed more than 1,400 people in Israel in a wave of attacks on October 7. In response Israel has launched air strikes which have killed more than 3,300 people in Gaza.
During the interview presenter Nick Ferrari asked Sir Keir if “a siege is appropriate, cutting off water, cutting off power?”
Sir Keir replied: “I think Israel does have that right, it is an ongoing situation.
“Obviously everything should be done within international law, but I don’t want to step away from the core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself and Hamas bears responsibility.”
A spokesperson for the Labour leader later told the Guardian Sir Keir had been answering a previous question on Israel’s right to defend itself generally, and had stressed his position on international law.
Cllr Farhat confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service she had resigned.
In a Facebook post she said she was “deeply horrified” by Sir Keir’s comments.
Her statement read: “The Labour Party’s failure to promptly and effectively denounce the atrocities in Gaza is the ultimate reason for my decision.
“It is not what I stand for, and it goes against my principles. I advocate for peace for all, and do not wish to be associated with a party who lack moral authority and empathy for the Palestinian people. I would like to hope that the party can address the issues which have led me to this decision.
She added she believed Israel’s actions in response to the attacks committed by Hamas, are “absolutely appalling and criminal behaviour under international law”.
“I too like many, mourn the loss of all innocent lives in Gaza and Israel. I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Nottingham as well as the Palestinian and Muslim community who have all been deeply impacted by the recent events.”
In a surprise attack on October 7, Hamas killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and took more than 100 people hostage in what the UK government called “vile terrorist acts”.
Following retaliatory Israeli air strikes, around 3,300 people have been killed in Gaza, where the Hamas group is based.
Although Israel denies it is targeting civilians, saying it is attacking Hamas infrastructure, many of those killed are civilians.
Around 600,000 civilians have also left northern Gaza after Israel told a population of 1.1 million to move south, ahead of an expected ground invasion.
Cllr David Mellen, the leader of the council, said: “Nadia is one of 22 new councillors who joined our authority in May’s local elections and she has made a positive contribution in a short space of time.
“She is a loss to the Labour Party, but I am sure that she will continue to work for the people in Leen Valley alongside her Labour colleague.”
Gedling Borough Councillor Russell Whiting has also resigned from the Labour Party for similar reasons, and will now also represent his ward as an independent.
In an internal email sent to Labour councillors from Sir Keir, he added: “Labour has been clear; Israel has the right to defend herself, to keep its people safe and bring hostages home. Israel’s defence must be conducted in accordance with international law.
“We are also clear, the pain and suffering that has been unleashed is the responsibility of the terrorists of Hamas. Hamas are not the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people are not Hamas.”
The email added Labour is calling for all parties to act in accordance with international law, and protect civilian life and the immediate humanitarian access of food, water, fuel, electricity and medicine to Gaza.
