Labour candidate breaks ranks with leadership to call for Gaza ceasefire

The Israeli government announced an invasion of the province, governed by terror group Hamas, following an attack on Israel on October 7, which saw the taking of about 200 hostages.

Mr Juss Hamas's actions, but said that Israel should also stop its hostilities immediately.

Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has so far stopped short of making such demands, saying that Israel had the right to defend itself.

He instead backed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's call for a brief pause to allow for humanitarian support.

But Mr Juss said there needed to be an immediate ceasefire by both sides. He said Hamas should immediately release all the hostages it had taken during its attack on Israel on October 7, but also that Israel should end its military action to 'eradicate' the terror group.

Mr Juss said: "The attack by Hamas on October 7 was appalling, as is the government of Israel's blockade of food, water and energy supplies in Gaza and as are the consequences of the continuing military action.

"I am deeply concerned by the civilian deaths that continue to occur.

"The way forward is constructive peace talks in good faith, not military action, for a two-state solution."

This week Israel announced the 'second stage' in the conflict against Hamas.

It comes in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, which saw 3,000 rockets fired against Israel and vehicle-transported incursions into its territory. In a single day, more than 350 Israeli soldiers and police and more than 1,000 Israeli civilians were killed, including young people at a music festival near Re'im. About 200 Israelis were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip, with almost 30 children reported to be among those kidnapped.

The widening Israeli ground offensive came as the territory was pounded from air, land and sea, and the Gaza Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll had risen above 8,000.

The bombardment – described by Gaza residents as the most intense of the war – knocked out most communications in the territory late on Friday, largely cutting off the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people from the world. Communications including internet were restored to much of Gaza early on Sunday.

On Sunday night the Israeli military said it had struck more than 450 militant targets over the previous 24 hours, including Hamas command centres, observation posts and anti-tank missile launching positions.