Sir Keir Starmer: Gaza Needs Humanitarian Pause.

As the Hamas-Israel conflict rages, Sir Keir Starmer has called for a pause in the fighting. To allow humanitarian aid into Gaza on top of the trucks already carrying aid from the Egyptian side. The situation for the Gazans is very dire. The Israelis have been bombing seemingly indiscriminately Gaza to rubble. The IDF say civilians will die because Hamas bases itself in areas where civilians dwell. So, Israel has no choice but to bomb areas where civilians live and cannot be helped if Hamas (allegedly) chooses to be amongst the population.

It's been 3 weeks since Hamas broke the barrier and killed allegedly 1,400 Israeli civilians. Kidnapped many Israelis and non-Israelis. Probably to use them as bargaining chips for thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

Also, to stop any Israeli ground offensive or at least delay one. Qatar, which funds Hamas and houses its leader in Doha, has been negotiating the release of these hostages. Some have been released and generally said the Hamas regime took care of them. A clip emerged showing two Hamas fighters bringing in two old ladies to a waiting aid vehicle. One of the old women shook hands with her Hamas handler and said, "Shalom".

From the start of this war, Sir Keir has echoed Rishi Sunak's words that Israel has the right to "defend itself". However, he is coming under increasing pressure from fellow Labour notables. Even some MPs on Sir Keir's front bench have said it's time for a ceasefire. Other Labour notables are the mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Labour Scottish leader Anas Sarwar and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

The trio said Israel did, indeed, have the right to defend itself. However, they do not agree with how Israel is carrying out its attacks on Gaza. They feel Israel should have been more targeted in its attacks on Gaza. Rather than a mass bombing campaign where the Gazan population at large is being targeted. Whether the IDF is collectively punishing all Gazans from the air or cannot help it (because Hamas chooses to live amongst the population) to Gazans being bombed ceaselessly it doesn't matter. To them, it's death, destruction, and seemingly the end of the world.

With Khan, Sarwar, and Burnham, Sir Keir must be feeling the heat to call for a direct ceasefire. To end the awful destruction and loss of life playing out on our screens. How long can Sir Keir hold out before bowing to those in his party calling for a ceasefire? Or will Sir Keir hold out even though he may be alienated from many in his party?

Sir Keir needs to watch because the Tories could use it as a political weapon. If Sir Keir bends to the will of those calling for a ceasefire the Tories may say the Labour leader is weak. That said, there must be Tories- calling for a ceasefire too. Thinking, the war has gone too far.

The SNP has called for a ceasefire. They seem to be the only political party calling for such an action. The SNP First Minister Humza Yusuf has family in Gaza and whether you like Humza or not, must be extremely painful for him.

Even if Starmer were to call for a ceasefire I doubt the Israelis would listen. Even if Sunak, Biden and other world leaders called for a ceasefire would Netanyahu listen?

Netanyahu might see this war as a chance to redeem himself. Netanyahu has been unpopular just lately because of his alleged wrongdoing and far-right political stance. It's like this war came along to save his bacon (no offence to my Jewish readers!).

Netanyahu knows the Jewish nation regardless of politics, has temporarily come together to fight the common enemy - Hamas. Netanyahu has proved himself for better or worse, to be a political survivor. However, this time when the dust has settled over this war (however it turns out) Netanyahu could be brought down!