LABOUR’S Shadow Defence Secretary has said the party does not support a ceasefire in Gaza and that Israel has the right to defend itself.

John Healey told GB News: “I understand why people are calling for a ceasefire. But first and foremost, Israel has the right to self-defence.

“That means going after Hamas fighters and their missile systems and their command centres so that they can’t pose the same terror risk to Israel again in the future.

“But secondly, there’s a very strong practical argument, and he [Keir Starmer] said not a ceasefire for now, it is not the right way, because the best chance of getting what everybody wants to see, a reduction in the civilian casualties and alleviation of the Palestinian suffering, is by working for humanitarian pauses.”

Speaking to Camilla Tominey, he continued: “It’s what the US is doing. It’s what the European Union is doing. Even the UN aid chief has called for the same, saying it’s the only viable option and so Keir Starmer was making a big issue to take people with him.

“And in the end, there was a single common concern in the Labour Party, which is to see the alleviation of Palestinian suffering, reduce the civilian deaths, and get more aid into Gaza.

“It’s much more likely to achieve that through pauses, not simply a call for ceasefire.”

He denied that there was a “significant rebellion” within the party on the issue: “There isn’t a significant rebellion. There is a range of different views that Keir Starmer recognises.

“Because Keir Starmer is not a protest leader, he’s making the arguments of a national politician concerned to see the best way of achieving what is a common concern about the Palestinian suffering, loss of innocent lives.”

Asked about the planned pro-Palestinian march in London on Armistice Day, he said: “It will be utterly unacceptable if the march interferes with disrespects the remembrance service at the Cenotaph. We’re in a democracy. We have to balance the rights of free speech and protest.

“It’s an operational decision for the police. They are talking to the protest organisers who want to show their solidarity with Palestinians and they’re looking at a different place in London at a time two hours after the remembrance service at the Cenotaph.”