LABOUR has been accused of a “shameful and opportunistic” bid to hound another black woman out of the party after suspending Kate Osamor MP for suggesting Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

The Edmonton MP issued an apology for “any offence caused” after she had the whip suspended for appearing to say the war in the Palestinian territory should be remembered as a genocide alongside the Nazis’ atrocities.

The former shadow development secretary, who served in Jeremy Corbyn’s top team, wrote the message online on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.

She later tweeted: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a day to remember the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and the genocides that have occurred since.

“I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza as part of that period of remembrance.”

Today shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said it was “generally accepted across the board as offensive” to use the Holocaust to criticise Israel.

He told Times Radio: “There will now be an investigation. These investigations have to be proper and fair. So I wouldn’t want to prejudge any of that, but it’s right that there’s now an investigation."

A spokesman for Momentum said: “This outrageous decision further damages Labour’s reputation for anti-racism under Keir Starmer and should be immediately reversed.”

On Friday the International Court of Justice at The Hague found that Israel had a plausible case to answer on genocide regarding its brutal and inhumane war on Gaza. The Momentum spokesman said: “Instead of echoing this call to stop a potential genocide, Keir Starmer is attacking those calling it out.

“We call on all in Labour to resist this shameful and opportunistic attempt to hound another black woman out of the party.”

Ms Osamor is the second London Labour MP to be suspended following allegations of anti-semitism.

Hackney North MP Diane Abbott, who was shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, had the whip removed last year pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism to the Observer.

Birmingham Hall Green MP Tahir Ali recently accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of having “the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands” over his response to the conflict.

A Labour spokesman said of his remarks: “That language is clearly inappropriate and not language we would support or endorse or believe should be used.”