Oxford City Council leader 'disappointed' as Labour councillors resign

Six labour councillors on the city council resigned yesterday (October 21) evening after remarks from party leadership on the Israel-Hamas conflict sparked concern.

Councillors Imogen Thomas, Edward Mundy, Paula Dunne, Duncan Hall, Dr Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini and Jabu Nala-Hartley said they were stepping down from the party in the wake of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appearing to suggest that Israel has “the right” to withhold energy and water from Gaza.

READ MORE: Dramatic day for Labour as six more councillors resign in Oxford

The six city councillors announced on Friday evening they have resigned over the "Labour leadership’s refusal to condemn collective punishment of Palestinians".

Cllr Susan Brown, Labour leader of Oxford City Council, said: " While I am disappointed that they have chosen to do this, local residents can be assured that the Oxford Labour administration on the council will continue to deliver for residents as we have done since our election.

"Keir Starmer reiterated today that Israel has the right to defend itself, but must act in accordance with international law.

"We all abhor the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and Labour stands in solidarity with the innocent civilians in Gaza and Israel in the face of continuing violence and suffering through the lack of basic necessities.

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"We are all hoping for a peaceful outcome soon.

"Oxford Labour continues to support our local Jewish and Muslim communities who are both grieving.

"It is vital that we all play our part in ensuring that Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism have no place in our city. We will continue to support all Oxford's faith communities.

"There is no place for hate in Oxford and I would urge anyone experiencing any such horrific incidents to report them to the police."

The most recent resignations come after fellow Oxford City councillors Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif also said they would resign over the comments.

All eight councillors will continue to serve as independents.

Their resignations mean Labour is now down to 24 councillors on Oxford City Council, with 24 in opposition.

Sir Keir’s comments were made in an interview with LBC in the wake of Hamas launching a murderous assault on Israeli civilians.

But Sir Keir argued on Friday that he had intended to say that Israel has the right to defend itself and retrieve the around 200 hostages being held – “within international law”.

Speaking to broadcasters, the Labour leader said he wanted to “clarify precisely what I was saying” during the “grave and urgent” situation for more than two million Palestinians.

“I know that LBC clip has been widely shared and caused real concern and distress in some Muslim communities, so let me be clear about what I was saying and what I wasn’t saying,” he said.

“I was saying that Israel has the right to self-defence, and when I said that right I meant it was that right to self-defence. I was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines.

“On the contrary. For over a week now, I have been leading the charge calling for that humanitarian aid to come in.”

Sir Keir has met with councillors as he works to repair the damage caused by the remarks on the politically fraught subject.