The newly appointed British government official has a history of anti-Israel, pro-Gaza sentiment, which could influence how Britain’s new ruling Labour party approaches Israel’s war with Hamas.
In March, Minister of Justice Shabana Mahmood She has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and accused Israel of killing innocent civilians, but pro-Palestinian Muslim voters still question her commitment to their cause.
“I have always supported a diplomatic process to stop the killing of innocent civilians, provide humanitarian assistance and rescue hostages,” Mahmoud wrote to constituents in March. “However, it is clear that the diplomatic process has not made sufficient progress. This method of warfare is unacceptable and the disproportionate level of attacks against innocent people should have been rightfully heard in an international court.”
Mahmood was re-elected in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency, defeating pro-Palestinian independent candidate Akhmed Yaqoob. He has faced criticism from the Muslim community for abstaining from voting in November’s Gaza ceasefire referendum and for refusing to step down from the shadow cabinet because of his party’s support for Israel.
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As a Muslim woman and representative of a city with a large Muslim population (29.9% of Birmingham residents identified as Muslim in the 2021 census), Mahmood has been constantly addressing this issue.
Shabana Mahmood enters No. 10 Downing Street after the Labour Party’s landslide election victory in London, England, July 5, 2024. The Labour Party won a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
She acknowledged in February that Labour had lost the trust of British Muslim voters because of its support for Israel. Middle East Eye reportedLater that month, she signed and supported a new bill calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The party is strongly pro-Israel, but Mahmoud’s own views are contrary to that. In 2014, she Post twitter Outside a Sainsbury’s grocery store in Birmingham city centre, he called on people to join a demonstration in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, adding: “#FreePalestine”.
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Mahmoud also touted his record as a “lifelong supporter of Palestinian rights” in a letter to constituents shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, but condemned Hamas’ attacks and insisted that “international humanitarian law” must be respected “at all times.”
The Palestinian flag is displayed at a billboard advertising site in Kings Heath, Birmingham, England, on March 14, 2024. (Photo by Mike Kemp/via Getty Images)
Labour came to power in a historic victory, securing the second-highest number of seats in Parliament after Tony Blair’s record-breaking victory in 1997. But the party’s victory came on the back of several false figures, including a record-low voter turnout and the fact that the ruling Conservative party had to face a split in the vote with the more right-wing Reform Britain Party.
The Conservative Party lost over 200 seats, ultimately winning just 121 seats as the main opposition to Labour. The Liberal Democrats gained 72 seats, their biggest victory by a third party in over 100 years.
During the emergency rally, protesters held candles and placards in support of Palestine. Protesters lit candles and gathered to voice their opposition to Israeli threats to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, where relentless Israeli bombardment of northern Gaza has forced well over a million Palestinians into Rafah. (Martin Pope/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Now Labour must be in power, but one of the major issues at the heart of British politics is the Gaza issue. Muslim voters have abandoned Labour in droves, voting for an independent candidate who is a Labour rebel against the Labour candidate because of his stance on Israel and Gaza.
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Labour candidate Jonathan Ashworth lost to pro-Palestinian independent candidate Shokat Adam in one of the election’s biggest upsets. According to The Guardian:Adam won by just 979 votes.
Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham and Ladywood, campaigns in Birmingham, England, on January 18, 2024. (Nicola Tree/Getty Images)
Mr Ashworth had held his seat since 2011 and was shadow chancellor – a role he would have taken in the full Cabinet if he had won the election – but residents in south Leicester refused to let him choose a candidate who would oppose Israel and dedicate his victory to “the people of Gaza”. Sky News reported..
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In areas with a Muslim population of 20% or more, Labour’s support fell by 23 percentage points, losing five seats in landslides, including Birmingham and Blackburn. In areas with a large Muslim population but less than 20%, Labour candidates won by narrow margins.
Some within the party, including the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have been open about their unhappiness with the party’s stance on Gaza. He told the BBC The party said it would “work with its partners to seek recognition of Palestine.”
