Labour Rochdale by-election candidate apologises for ‘deeply offensive’ Israel claims
by Jordan Reynolds
Feb 12, 2024
3 minutes
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A Labour by-election candidate has apologised for his “deeply offensive” comments, after he reportedly said Israel allowed Hamas to carry out its October 7 attack to provide grounds to invade Gaza.
Azhar Ali remains Labour’s candidate in Rochdale despite his remarks being described as “totally reprehensible” by Jewish groups and calls from the Tories to remove him.
He was recorded making the comments at a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party, according to The Mail on Sunday.
The newspaper reported that Mr Ali told the meeting: “The Egyptians are saying
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