Labour Oxford councillors quit over Starmer comments on Israel Gaza war

Two councillors have resigned from Labour over Sir Keir Starmer's position on the Israel Gaza war.

Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif, who both sit on Oxford City Council, said they left because the Labour leader is "seeming to condone the collective punishment against the people of Gaza".

Council leader Susan Brown said she was "saddened" by their decision, but that Israel had a right to defend itself.

Sir Keir said Hamas "bears responsibility".

Speaking to LBC, he said Israel "does have that right" to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians, though "everything should be done within international law".

In their resignation statement, the councillors said they "stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and Palestine and call for an end to violence and the humanitarian crisis".