Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to meet Muslim MPs amid tensions over the party's stance on the Israel-Gaza war.
It comes as more than 150 Muslim Labour councillors have written to him urging the party leadership to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
Sir Keir has faced criticism since seeming to say Israel had the "right" to cut off water and energy to Gaza.
He later clarified his position, saying he meant only that the country had a right to self-defence.
At least 19 Labour councillors have already quit the party over the issue, including in Cambridge, Nottinghamshire, Gloucester, while some MPs have also been critical about the position the leadership has taken.
In Oxford, Labour has lost its majority on the council, after eight councillors resigned from the party.
On Wednesday, a letter signed by more than 150 Muslim Labour councillors representing areas including Birmingham, Leicester and Glasgow, called on the party's leadership to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to protect civilians and allow access to humanitarian aid.
More than 30 Labour MPs, as well as former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent, have also backed calls for a ceasefire.
However, last week Sir Keir refused to support the move, instead saying Israel had the right to defend itself.
Asked if there should be a ceasefire, Labour's shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC "of course we want to get to a position where the fighting stops".
However, he added: "The quickest route to peace would be for Hamas to release those hostages and to stop attacking Israel."
Sources within the party have confirmed to the BBC that Sir Keir is set to meet some of his own Muslim MPs later to discuss the party's position on Gaza.
In an interview with LBC on 11 October, Sir Keir was asked whether it was "appropriate" for Israel to cut off the supply of power and water to Gaza.
"I think that Israel does have that right," he said. "Obviously everything should be done within international law, but I don't want to step away from the core principles that Israel has a right to defend herself."
A spokesman for the Labour leader later said he had only meant to say Israel had a general right to self-defence.
However, Oxford councillor Imogen Thomas - who quit the Labour Party last week - said it was "reprehensible" that Sir Keir was "ambiguous" on the right to water supply in Gaza and took more than a week to clarify his comments.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she wanted to see the Labour leader "standing up unequivocally against war crimes and for humanity".
Comments from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also appear to be at odds with the position of Sir Keir.
On Tuesday he accused Israel of a "clear breach" of international law in Gaza, telling the BBC there is "no justification for the withholding of essential supplies".
Sir Keir has not explicitly said Israel has broken international law but has stressed it must be followed.
More on Israel-Gaza war
- Follow live: Latest updates
- History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict
- Hostages: The forgotten Israelis kept by Hamas in Gaza
- From Gaza: BBC reporter flees Israel bomb warning
Meanwhile, Sir Keir has faced criticism from an Islamic centre in Cardiff which accused him of "gravely" misrepresenting a meeting with Muslim leaders there over the weekend.
Posting about the visit on X, the Labour leader said he had "repeated our calls for all hostages to be released, more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, for the water and power to be switched back on, and a renewed focus on the two state solution".
However, the South Wales Islamic Centre expressed "dismay" at the statement and said Sir Keir had "gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit".
"There was a robust and frank conversation which reflected the sentiments Muslim communities are feeling at this time," the centre added.
Asked about the statement, shadow minister Mr Jones told the BBC it was right for Sir Keir to meet with Muslim and Jewish communities to "listen to their concerns".
He added that the Labour leader had "reaffirmed" party policy off the back of the visit.
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2023-10-25 10:29:41Z
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