KEIR Starmer is facing growing pressure from members of his top team to change tack on the Israel-Hamas war as growing numbers of senior Labour MPs backed calls for a ceasefire.

Imran Hussain, who is the shadow minister for the future of work, is among 95 MPs from across the political spectrum who have signed a motion tabled by Labour MP Richard Burgon calling for a break in the fighting and a de-escalation of the conflict.

It comes after Yasmin Qureshi, the shadow minister for the equalities office, broke ranks at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday to call for a ceasefire – at odds with the Labour leadership’s position on the war.

Former Cabinet minister Liam Byrne – best known as the minister who left a note for the coalition government warning there was “no money” left – has also signed the motion.

READ MORE: Momentum builds behind call for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Starmer has so far refused to call for a ceasefire but has stressed that Israel’s response to the attacks from Hamas on October 7 – which killed 1400 Israelis – must be in line with international law.

Israel has been accused by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres of collectively punishing Palestinians with its bombardment of Gaza and cutting off essential supplies of food, water and fuel.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a tweet on Thursday that trucks containing water, food, medicines and medical supplies – but not fuel amid fears it could be used to aid further Hamas attacks – had passed into Gaza from Egypt.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, Israeli airstrikes have killed 5800 people in Gaza, reports CBS.

Starmer is under pressure from Muslim MPs to take a stronger stance in support of Palestine and to criticise Israel in stronger terms.

He met with those unhappy with his position on the matter on Wednesday, straight after Prime Minister’s Questions and a spokesperson confirmed shadow ministers were in attendance, as well as left-wing backbenchers.

Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Live about the motion, Labour grandee Lord David Blunkett said “some” of his colleagues should “grow up” and stick to the party line.

Labour are so far stopping short of calling for a ceasefire, instead arguing for a “pause” to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza strip.

Lord Blunkett said: “I just think that everybody needs to have their own pause and think, ‘What am I doing? What difference is it making? Who am I influencing? Or am I making myself feel better?’

“I mean, we can’t make ourselves feel better when kids are dying in the Gaza strip, when people are captured by Hamas, 200 plus are in there, in the tunnels, frightened for their lives.

“People have just got to, frankly, let me just say this, people have got to grow up, basically...”

The former home secretary added: “I’m talking about some of my colleagues who think it’s more important to make a gesture than it is to stay together and have a very clear view, all of us calling for a pause and to get that humanitarian aid in and to, hopefully, persuade the Israelis to hold off.”