A group of Labour councillors in Greenwich have called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Over half of the Greenwich Labour Group have made a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank and for all hostages and illegally-held prisoners to be released.

The group, which includes 29 councillors, said they were joining the World Health Organisation in calling for unrestricted humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, and for water, food, power and access to medical aid to be immediately restored.

The statement also asks for governments that have influence in the region to pressure all sides to commit to finding a just solution in the interest of preventing further deaths.

The councillors said in a statement on December 13: “We are appalled by the events in the Middle East and are aware of the impact they are having on Greenwich residents.

"As Greenwich councillors we add our voices to the many others around the world calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We condemn the atrocities committed against Israel on October 7 just as we condemn the bombing of built-up civilian areas of Gaza.”

They added: “The sheer number of innocent civilians now killed and displaced in Gaza, the numbers of women and children affected and the destruction of healthcare, religious and other infrastructure is truly shocking.

"An unprecedented humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Civilians in Gaza need to know the world is not simply watching but that urgent steps are being taken to end it.”

The councillors who signed the statement are Majella Anning, Olu Babatola, Linda Bird, Issy Cooke, Ann-Marie Cousins, Gary Dillon, Cathy Dowse, John Fahy, Leo Fletcher, David Gardner, Rowshan Hannan, Adel Khaireh, Averil Lekau, Mariam Lolavar, Christine May, Odette McGahey, Sarah-Jane Merrill, Asli Mohammed, Simon Peirce, Majid Rahman, Maisie Richards Cottell, Lakshan Saldin, Jackie Smith, Christine St Mathew-Daniel, Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Sandra Thomas, Danny Thorpe, Ivis Williams and Miranda Williams.

A councillor included in the list, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Councillors have been concerned for some time about not having spoken out. We have been talking amongst ourselves about putting together a statement and this has now come to pass.”

The councillor added that this was the first time a group of Labour councillors had broken away from the party’s stance as leader of the council.

The authority currently consists of 52 Labour councillors and three Conservative councillors.

The group calling for a ceasefire includes four cabinet members for the authority; Councillors Ann-Marie Cousins, Adel Khaireh, Averil Lekau and Mariam Lolavar.

Three of the authority’s councillors, Majella Anning, Issy Cooke and John Fahy, had previously signed a letter last month as part of over 300 Labour councillors to urge party leader Keir Starmer to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The leader had previously stated he felt a ceasefire would encourage future attacks from Hamas against Israel.

A Greenwich Council meeting was evacuated on December 6 after a group of pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted proceedings, chanting, “Ceasefire now,” from the public gallery of the council chamber.

The protestors were escorted out of the building by police and the meeting resumed shortly afterwards.

Regarding the protest on December 6, a Greenwich Council spokesperson told the LDRS: “We understand there is strong feeling on both sides of the conflict and that people have a right to express those views.

"The council has a long-standing relationship with faith leaders in our community and they recently came together in an act of solidarity and to call for a speedy and peaceful resolution to this conflict.”