A permanent ceasefire in Gaza now could risk more Hamas violence in the future, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to say as he attempts to repair a damaging Labour split. 

Sir Keir will deliver a speech on the Middle East this morning in which he will defend the official Labour position of calling for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting to allow people to flee and for more aid to be distributed. 

And he is expected to say that a permanent ceasefire at this stage could leave Hamas with the capability to carry out further attacks against Israel.

However, in an olive branch to Labour rebels who are pushing for a full ceasefire, Sir Keir will say that he fully understands the calls for a truce. 

The unexpected intervention comes after 13 Labour frontbenchers publicly challenged Sir Keir’s position either by calling for a ceasefire or supporting those who have done so. 

Dozens of the party’s backbench MPs and senior figures like Andy Burnham, Anas Sarwar and Sadiq Khan have also called for a ceasefire. 

Sir Keir’s speech will be viewed as an attempt to stabilise his leadership which has been rocked by the row.

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