Speaking days after Hamas’ recent terrorist attack on Israel, Mr Starmer told LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast that Israel “has the right” to withhold power and water from Gaza.

The Labour leader’s comments sparked a furious backlash among those within the party, with several councillors quitting over his remarks.

That includes Amna Abdullatif, the first Arab Muslim woman elected to Manchester City Council, Russell Whiting in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, and Mona Ahmed, a Labour councillor in Kensington and Chelsea.

At least 19 Labour councillors have quit, including Oxford, where the party has lost its majority on the council.

Some MPs have been critical of their leader’s comments too, with more than 30 backing a call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Mr Starmer has since tried to clarify his comments, insisting that he did not mean to imply that Israel would be justified to cut off power and water to Gaza, which is home to 2.2million civilians.

He stressed that Israel had a right to defend itself following Hamas’ terror attack two weeks before.

Mr Starmer also visited the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff and met leaders from the Muslim community.

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The Labour leader said he had been “deeply moved” during his visit, in which he heard “their pain and horror at the suffering of civilians in Gaza”.

“I made clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. International law must be followed,” he said in a statement after the meeting.

“I 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”.

But these comments also provoked a backlash, with the Muslim Council of Wales expressing its “dismay” at Mr Starmer’s comments.

“Our intention was to raise the concerns of the Muslim community around the suffering of Palestinians,” a spokesperson said.

“There was a robust and frank conversation which reflected the sentiments Muslim communities are feeling at this time.

“We wish to stress Keir Starmer’s social media post and images gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit. We affirm, unequivocally, the need for a free Palestine.”