West Yorkshire's Muslim Voters: Politically Homeless Amidst Gaza Conflict
The conflict in Gaza is the main concern for Muslim voters in the West Yorkshire borough of Kirklees ahead of the May 2 local elections.
Both the Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, and Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, are expected to suffer losses due to their stances on the issue.
Sunak's personal ratings have reached a record low, while Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in the region may cost Labour support.
Residents in Huddersfield, a market town in England, have expressed concerns about local issues such as the state of the high street and roads being overshadowed by events in the Middle East.
Sabahat Karim, an imam at the mosque, is having second thoughts about who to vote for due to the situation in Palestine and how political parties have responded.
Aamir Shahzad, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, noted that while residents want their local issues addressed, the ongoing war and desire for peace are dominating people's thoughts.
The conflict in Gaza started after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive, resulting in over 34,000 deaths, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities.