Billboard highlighting Keir Starmer’s comments on Gaza predates the election
A few people have asked us about an image circulating online of a billboard which shows the Labour logo and a photo of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, alongside the words: “‘Israel has the right’ to cut off food, water & electricity to 2 million people in Gaza - Keir Starmer.”
Although it’s been shared on X (formerly Twitter), and a similar image has been shared on Instagram, with the caption “Labour campaign posters going up for the General Election”, apparently jokingly, it is not a genuine Labour poster. And it’s not a recent image either, having been shared at least as far back as last December.
The Instagram account of the Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Network posted a video on 23 December 2023 appearing to show the poster being put up, with a caption saying “Bethnal Green, London”. But it’s unclear who’s behind the poster and we’ve not been able to confirm the location of the billboard or if it is still there. We’ve asked the network about this but not had a response.
The comment from Mr Starmer which appears in the image comes from an LBC interview on 11 October 2023, in the wake of the 7 October Hamas attacks against Israel.
When asked by presenter Nick Ferrari what a proportionate response was in his view, Mr Starmer said: “I think the first thing I have to say is responsibility lies with Hamas. This is cold-blooded murder of men, women, even children. It is terrorism and Israel has the right to defend herself. And there are ongoing situations with hostages and Israel has the right to do everything that it can to get those hostages back safe and sound, and therefore I’m very clear Israel must have that, does have that right, to defend herself, and Hamas bears responsibility.”
Mr Ferrari then said: “A siege is appropriate? Cutting off power, cutting off water?”
Mr Starmer responded: “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 these terrorist acts.”
Mr Starmer later sought to clarify his remarks, telling broadcasters on 20 October: “I was saying Israel had the right to self defence, and when I said that right, it was that right to self defence. I was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines.”