Keir Starmer's celebrations hijacked as hundreds of pro-Palestine activists protesting outside Labour HQ

The activists held signs saying "end the occupation" and "blood on your hands" in the demonstration outside Labour HQ.

Starmer has made a point of taking a firm stance on the attacks by Hamas, which took place just over a week ago in Israel.

WATCH: Starmer condemns the actions of Hamas in an interview with GB News

But he has faced criticism for the position, with some accusing him of "endorsing war crimes".

Over the last week, three Labour councillors quit the party over the issue.

Amna Abdullatif - the first Arab Muslim woman elected to Manchester City Council - resigned from the party this week, accusing the Labour leader of making "horrifying comments" about Palestine.

The Ardwick councillor, who was elected in 2019, said she had been left with "no choice other than to resign the Labour whip and resign from the Labour party due to Keir Starmer and a number of his senior frontbench making horrifying comments about Israel having the right to withhold fuel, water, food and electricity from the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, effectively endorsing a war crime".

In an interview with LBC last week, Starmer that "Israel has the right" to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians.

But he added: "Obviously, everything should be done within international law".

In a statement posted to X on Saturday, Starmer called on "all parties to act in line with international law, including allowing humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicines to Gaza and ensuring safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence".

The protest outside Labour HQ comes just hours after the Labour Party secured historic victories in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire.

Labour won by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth last night, seats which had majorities of 24,500 and 19,000 respectively.

Starmer said the results show that Labour is "redrawing the political map”, adding: “Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change, and they’re ready to put their faith into our changed Labour Party to deliver it.”

Alistair Strathern, the new MP for Mid Bedfordshire, took the seat from the Tories with 13,872 votes, representing a swing of 20.52 per cent.

He has a majority of just 1,000 votes following a bitter three-way battle with the Liberal Democrats, who held a fierce campaign in the region.

The seat has been held by the Conservatives since 1931, today flipping to Labour for the first time in history.

Sarah Edwards took Tamworth from the Conservatives with 11,719 votes. This represents a 23.89 per cent swing to the Labour Party - the second-highest by-election swing to Labour since 1945.

Polling guru Sir John Curtice said the results are "extremely bad news" for the Conservatives.

Meanwhile, Starmer said: “Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they’re ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it.

“Voters across Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Britain want a Labour government determined to deliver for working people, with a proper plan to rebuild our country.

“To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.”