Four Slough councillors have signed an open letter by Muslim Labour Party councillors asking their party to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

More than 150 Muslim Labour councillors across the country have written to party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner formally requesting that Labour support an immediate end to the violence.

Slough councillors Zaffar Ajaib, Sabia Akram, Maroof Bibi Mohammad and Mohammed Nazir are among those to add their signatures to the letter.

The letter reads: “As Labour councillors elected to serve our constituents, the message we have been hearing repeatedly over the past two weeks is simple, people just want an end to the bloodshed and loss of innocent life.

“No nation, no people or community should have to endure collective punishment and the same should be the case for the Palestinian people.

“We are also clear that hostages held captive must also be returned to their families safely.”

Sir Keir faced criticism following an LBC interview earlier in the month in which he appeared to say Israel has a right to cut off energy and water to the Gaza Strip.

He later clarified he was only referring to Israel’s right to self-defence and has said the nation's response to Hamas’ attacks should follow international law.

However, several Labour councillors across the country have resigned over their party leader’s stance on the conflict.

More than 30 Labour MPs have also signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary “to urgently press all parties to agree to an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities”.

The councillors’ open letter further reads: “As Labour Party councillors, as members, and as members of the Muslim community we urge the Labour Party to urgently adopt a position of calling for an immediate ceasefire, calling on the UK government and the international community to act upon this proposal to save innocent human lives.”

Violence escalated on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of civilians and taking more than 200 hostages.

Israel has launched airstrikes in retaliation, with preparations reportedly underway for a ground invasion of Gaza.

In a statement today, Sir Keir described the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza "completely insufficient" and called for all parties to ensure it reaches those in need.

He said: "In the long term there can only be a political solution to this crisis which is why we need to restart the hard work of talks for a two-state solution of a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel."