Sir Keir Starmer will meet Labour’s Muslim MPs as he continues efforts to allay the backlash over his position on Israel and Gaza.
The Labour leader will be joined by his deputy, Angela Rayner, on Wednesday afternoon amid anger over his comments which have sparked resignations from councillors.
In an interview with LBC after Hamas’s atrocity, Sir Keir suggested that Israel has the “right” to cut off power and water from Gaza.
But, acknowledging the “distress” caused by the remarks, he subsequently sought to clarify his position, arguing that he did not mean to back the siege on more than two million Palestinians.
Sir Keir’s office declined to comment on the meeting but party sources confirmed to the PA news agency that an invite to a meeting after Prime Minister’s Questions had gone out to Muslim MPs.
PA understands that Sir Keir has faced calls from the left of the party to expand the meeting to include a wider range of MPs.
Labour frontbencher Darren Jones insisted it was a “routine meeting”.
The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury told Times Radio: “It is perfectly normal for MPs, we all represent different constituencies around the country, to want to speak to the leader of our party.
“I’m sure it is the same in other political parties where there are issues that constituents are raising with us.
“And the meeting this afternoon is another example of that.
“And understandably, this is a very sensitive and emotive issue, both for people who have connections and relatives to the Palestinian people as well as the Israeli people, and it is perfectly normal for Keir to sit down and listen to colleagues in the parliamentary party and indeed our councillors and other members from across the country.”
Meanwhile, the South Wales Islamic Centre accused Sir Keir of having “gravely misrepresented” its meeting with Muslim leaders over the weekend.
The Labour leader had shared images of the meeting on Sunday, saying he repeated calls for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and for water and power to be restored.
He said he was “questioned by members” and “made clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. International law must be followed”.
But the centre apologised for the “hurt and confusion” caused by hosting Sir Keir.
“We wish to stress Keir Starmer’s social media post and images gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit,” a statement said.
“There was a robust and frank conversation which reflected the sentiments Muslim communities are feeling at this time.
“Members of the community directly challenged Keir on his statements made on the Israeli Government’s right to cut food, electricity and water to Gaza, warranting war crimes as well as his failure to call for an immediate ceasefire.”
So far 37 Labour MPs, and former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have backed a call for a ceasefire in the region, a position Sir Keir as well as the Government are not supporting.
The Labour leader has denied he ever backed Israel withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza.
Asked on LBC on October 11 if cutting off power and water was an appropriate response, Sir Keir replied: “I think that 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 a right to defend herself and Hamas bears responsibility for the terrorist acts.”
But he has rowed back the remarks amid concerns within the party that it has angered voters, particularly in Muslim communities.
On October 2, he told broadcasters: “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.
“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.”
