Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Palestinians must be allowed to rebuild Gaza, and that he was “horrified” by anti-Muslim hate in the UK at a Ramadan fast-breaking event on Tuesday.
During an evening speech at the first ever iftar held in Westminster Hall at Parliament for Ramadan, Starmer discussed several issues affecting the Muslim community over the past year.
“I know (this) has been a very difficult time for Muslims here in the UK with the pain of the conflict in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinians,” he said during the speech.
“I am absolutely clear that the Palestinian must be allowed to rebuild, and we should stand alongside them in this effort on the road to a two-state solution – the only way to get lasting peace in my opinion,” he added.
Starmer however has been criticised for his pro-Israel policies and statements during Israel’s war on Gaza, particularly when he said that Israel had the “right” to cut off electricity and water to Gaza after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel which began the Gaza War.
The UK continues to supply Israel with weapons, despite its brutal and indiscriminate war on Gaza, which killed over 61,000 people, and continued siege of the territory.Â
At the iftar, Starmer also condemned Islamophobia and the “wave of hatred we have seen directed towards British Muslims” stoked up by “far-right rhetoric and disinformation”, especially following the nationwide riots last year sparked by the murder of three girls in Southport.
“It is shocking – absolutely shocking – that 2024 was the worst year for anti-Muslim hate crime since the Home Office began collecting Data,” he said, adding that the numbers have “gone in the wrong direction to a record high”.
He added that the “true spirit of this country” was the images of people rebuilding a wall in front of a damaged mosque during the riots.
The iftar, named “the big iftar” was organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, and is set to run every day until 30 March.
It has faced some criticism from British Muslims however, due mainly to the UK government’s continued support of Israel.
Several MPs were present at the event, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting who shared a picture with several Labour MPs including Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Afzal Khan. Streeting called the event a “historic first”, while Khan said that the event showed “we are stronger together”.
Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi said she was “delighted the PM joined us, highlighting our diversity,” adding that “seeing him [and] the Palestinian Ambassador break fast together was a powerful reminder of our shared goal: peace for Gaza.”
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Hossam Zomlot, an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, was pictured at the event meeting MPs and Starmer.
