MORE than 150 Muslim Labour councillors came together today to demand that the party’s leadership call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

In a letter addressed to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner, the councillors highlight the disaster and death toll caused by Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip since October 7.

It reads: “Every day we fail to call on the government and the international community to push for [a] cessation of hostilities, Gazan children and hundreds of innocent men and women pay the price.

“As a party that bases its principles on fairness and justice, we cannot sit idly by as Palestinians face collective punishment.

“No nation, no people or community should have to endure collective punishment and the same should be the case for the Palestinian people.

“We are also clear that hostages held captive must also be returned to their families safely.”

In the Commons today, shadow minister for women and equalities Yasmin Qureshi used Prime Minister’s Questions to call the situation in Gaza “collective punishment” and ask Rishi Sunak: “How many more innocent Palestinians must die before this Prime Minister calls for humanitarian ceasefire?”

A spokesman for Labour did not say whether Ms Qureshi would be disciplined and denied that Sir Keir had dodged the issue during PMQs after no mention was made in his address.

So far, 37 Labour MPs have backed a call for a ceasefire in the region, a position Sir Keir as well as the government are not supporting.

Sir Keir and Ms Rayner met 12 Labour MPs yesterday amid anger over his previous comments.

Labour sources described the meeting as “constructive.”

Meanwhile, the South Wales Islamic Centre accused Sir Keir of having “gravely misrepresented” its meeting with Muslim leaders over the weekend.

In a statement published on Tuesday night, the centre apologised to local Muslims for the “hurt and confusion” caused by hosting Sir Keir.

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 later sought to clarify his position, arguing that he did not mean to back the siege on more than two million Palestinians.

In Scotland, First Minister Humza Yousaf questioned “how many more children have to die” in Gaza before the PM and Labour leader call for a ceasefire.

Mr Yousaf, whose in-laws are trapped in the region due to the hostilities, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “I cannot understand the PM’s position, or Keir Starmer’s unwillingness to call on all parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire.”

Other MPs also called for a humanitarian ceasefire during PMQs yesterday, including SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black.

The PM reiterated that “Israel has the right to defend itself” in response, but added that the government has “doubled down on efforts to find a better future for the Palestinian people.”

Mr Sunak said there was a need for “specific pauses, as distinct from a ceasefire” to allow people to leave Gaza and for aid to be transported into the region.

It came as the Ministry of Defence announced that an RAF plane carrying 21 tonnes of humanitarian supplies was on its way to Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

Humanitarian organisations have warned that the current level of aid is not enough to address the crisis.

Oxfam said starvation was being used “as a weapon of war” as it repeated its call for more aid to be allowed into the 25-mile-long strip.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees separately warned that without immediate deliveries of fuel, it will soon have to sharply reduce relief operations to Gaza.

The PM’s official spokesman also said Mr Sunak has rejected United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres’s statement to the security council that it was important to recognise that “the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum.”