The UK Labour Party has suspended a local election candidate and parliamentary staffer after she liked a social media post critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The move has sparked a growing debate over free speech within British politics, particularly around Palestine.
Jansev Jemal, who works for Labour MP Sam Carling and was standing in May’s local elections in Cambridgeshire, had her membership suspended after attention was drawn to her activity on LinkedIn.
The Telegraph reported that Jemal liked a comment under a tribute to Czeslawa Kwoka, a Polish child murdered at Auschwitz, which urged action against what it described as the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Although Jemal did not write the comment, her interaction with the post prompted the Labour Party to launch an internal investigation.
The party confirmed that all complaints are investigated according to its rules and procedures. Jemal has not made a public statement regarding her suspension.
This decision has reignited concerns among campaigners who argue that Labour, under Keir Starmer’s leadership, has become increasingly intolerant of criticism towards Israel.
Critics claim that pro-Palestinian voices within the party are being unfairly targeted, narrowing the space for legitimate political debate.
The suspension follows other incidents where Labour candidates have faced disciplinary action over remarks about Israel. Last year, Labour dropped Azhar Ali as a candidate in the Rochdale by-election after leaked comments suggested Israel had allowed the 7 October Hamas attacks to justify a military invasion of Gaza.
Groups such as Free Speech on Israel and Jewish Voice for Labour have repeatedly warned that the fight against antisemitism must not be misused to silence criticism of Israeli government policies. They argue that genuine political expression and support for Palestinian rights are increasingly under threat.
Labour’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict remains a sensitive and divisive issue, with growing calls for a clearer distinction between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel’s actions.
