SIR Keir Starmer has said his rejection of calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East still stands - after a Bradford MP quit Labour's frontbench in protest at the leader's position on the conflict.

The Labour leader admitted his party was divided on the Gaza crisis but said there was unity in "condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas" and "being clear about Israel's right to self-defence".

It comes after Imran Hussain, Labour MP for Bradford East, revealed on Tuesday he was quitting his shadow ministerial role so he could "strongly advocate" for a cessation of hostilities.

The Telegraph & Argus asked Mr Hussain if he wanted to comment on Sir Keir reiterating his position today, but has not yet received a response. 

Sir Keir has been grappling to maintain discipline in his top team over the conflict, with at least 16 frontbenchers indicating support for a ceasefire.

Asked whether the split posed a "huge challenge" to his authority today, he said: "Across the Labour Party, we are united in condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas, in being clear about Israel's right to self-defence.

"There is a division on whether we should call for a humanitarian pause, which is my position as I've set out very, very clearly, and some who think we should have a ceasefire, which again I've rejected very clearly," Sir Keir said.

"But this is not a usual political divide because what people are yearning for is a reduction of the terrible events that we're seeing, the innocent deaths we're seeing in Gaza, and that's why a humanitarian pause is so important."

Mr Hussain, who was Labour's shadow minister for the new deal for working people, said in his resignation letter: "A ceasefire is essential to ending the bloodshed, to ensuring that enough aid can pass into Gaza and reach those most in need, and to help ensure the safe return of Israeli hostages."

He said he was "deeply troubled" by the Labour leader's interview on LBC in which he appeared to suggest the Israeli Government had a right to withhold water and power from citizens in Gaza.

After Mr Hussain's resignation, Labour said it understood calls for a ceasefire but argued this would "only freeze the conflict", arguing that a humanitarian pause was the "best and most realistic way" to address the emergency.

Today, the White House said Israel agreed to four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in northern Gaza to allow civilians to flee.