How big of an issue is Gaza for Bradford voters?

The mobile billboard van makes its way through the streets, the candidate’s campaigner shouting through a megaphone that his man has “the loudest voice in Palestine”.

A few streets away, on one of Bradford’s busiest shopping routes for Muslim-owned businesses, the same candidate’s face is emblazoned on several giant election banners that stretch the length of the road.

But despite polls suggesting Labor is very much on the rise nationally, the party’s name is nowhere to be seen on the screens here – their candidate’s message is simply a plea to pick ‘box number five’ on election day.

Gaza matters here and that means it will matter at the ballot box in this area.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel in October, where 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza, Israel launched airstrikes and then a sustained ground offensive.

That campaign killed more than 37,900 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, with tens of thousands wounded as Israel pushed first into northern and then southern Gaza.

In Bradford, a city where child poverty is twice the national level, the plight of children in Gaza also looms large on the minds of many voters – particularly those of Muslim origin.

For months, they have voiced their displeasure with Labor in particular, particularly the party’s early stance in calling for a “durable cessation of hostilities” instead of a ceasefire.

Although the party changed its position, the order for Labor MPs to abstain from a Scottish National Party motion calling for a ceasefire was met with anger by some here.

Many Muslim voters say they feel compelled to vote for a candidate and party adamant about the ceasefire.

That’s why in several of Bradford’s five constituencies, global politics could be a crucial factor in the final outcome.

Last week, at a search event for Bradford West at the city’s university, issues in Gaza dominated the debate.

Voter Azeem Hussain, who works in further education, told me that Gaza will “absolutely” be a factor in where he votes – if he votes at all.

He admitted it wasn’t the only factor – local services and rising taxes were on his mind.

“Every day, the students I talk to, the families I talk to, they all agree that it’s a massive factor for us not to support Labor specifically.

“The Labor vote in my town is in massive decline and it showed in the local elections.”

Labor has already faced a backlash in Gaza in local elections in May, with several independents winning on that platform and damaging the party’s stronghold at City Hall.

The Bradford West parliamentary constituency, where 58% of the population is Muslim, is particularly unpredictable.

In 2012, George Galloway won here and hailed his victory as “Bradford Spring”.

International politics has always influenced this field.

Bradford East can be unpredictable too – and what happens in the Middle East has always been a hot issue here.

Despite Naz Shah and Imran Hussain – latterly the sitting Labor MPs in those two seats – both resigning from the shadow backbench last year over Gaza, both face fresh challenges from pro-ceasefire independents.

There is a certain feeling that Labor will build on the record of its Bradford candidates and rely on Muslim voters to shore up the party’s vote and try to grow them on July 4.

It appears that any efforts by the national party could now antagonize a large, grassroots Labor vote.

The campaigns of candidates of other parties in both constituencies were also very low-key.

Tory candidate Aubrey Holt’s six-point plan for Bradford East makes no mention of international politics and focuses heavily on local issues.

Nigel Moxon, the Conservative candidate for Bradford West, is a councilor in Nottinghamshire. Listings for his campaign direct voters to the Conservatives’ home page.

Rishi Sunak has repeatedly called for “a humanitarian pause” to allow aid to enter Gaza and called for “a long-term sustainable ceasefire”.

However, despite some disagreements within its ranks, the Conservative government continued to support Israel’s right to defend its security and refused to support calls to end UK arms sales to Israel.

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer called for “a ceasefire that lasts” and backed the government’s position to call on Israel to cease its actions.

However, the feeling here and in similar communities is that neither side has been clear, unequivocal or unbiased in its response, and that both have failed to put enough pressure on Israel.

Anger at Labor is more pronounced in those Muslim communities where it traditionally has a strong and loyal following – and where Jeremy Corbyn is still hugely popular.

This is perhaps why there has been a distinct lack of visits by any major politicians to the urban and more diverse areas of Bradford during this campaign.

Neighboring Keighley is an important place that could also be affected by the events in Gaza.

Conservative Robbie Moore won last time out, with Labour’s John Grogan second.

The pair is ready to fight again.

On a visit to find out what people think, I approach a group of boys sitting in a supermarket parking lot in the shadow of the city’s largest mosque.

They are politically engaged when it comes to some issues – but far from enthusiastic about the current general election campaign or the current policy offering.

Twenty-year-old Umar Mehmood tells me he believes there are “good people” running for election, and also acknowledges the “sticky situation” that has led to this democratic impasse for many in his networks.

“People aren’t perfect, and no matter what side you’re on, two wrongs don’t make a right,” he muses.

“It won’t be the only issue that Muslims will vote on, but it’s certainly a factor,” he adds of Gaza.

Faizan Ahmed is 21 years old and voted for the first time, just like his friends.

He is still not sure if he will vote at all on Thursday.

“Labour has just become the same as the Tories now, so it doesn’t really make a difference,” he says. “But Gaza has become the deal breaker.”

This is a view partly shared by Linsay Taylor, head of community engagement at Muslim advocacy charity MEND, which is part of the national Muslim Vote coalition.

The main focus of the campaign is to increase voter turnout rates – and to highlight issues such as the 60% of the Muslim community living below the poverty line and the intersection of things like housing, education, health and welfare with minority and faith identities.

She says Gaza “really galvanized the community, and that should be respected, understood and honored.”

But she also points out, “it’s not just the Muslim community that’s passionate about this.

“My job takes me all over the country and I engage with Muslims and non-Muslims. It’s a topic on everyone’s lips.

“It’s not just an important issue for Muslims, because it’s not a religious issue. It is a humanitarian problem”.

Meanwhile, in the city center, cafe owner Habib Hussain is also quite circumspect.

He cares deeply and passionately about the plight of the people of Gaza and the region, but says “we live in this country and we have to vote for ourselves.”

“First, we should think about ourselves and then we can talk about foreign policy,” he says.

“Our main concern in this country is health problems, school problems, our children, they are on the streets, they don’t have jobs, there are many other problems.”

Back in the car park, supermarket worker Hassan Farooq, 22, says he worries people are forgetting everyday local issues.

“I’m not saying Gaza doesn’t matter, because it does. And the Muslim vote matters.

“But the main political parties, for them, it’s not a problem, it’s far from home and they’re not too bothered.

“I don’t want people to take advantage of this because it won’t bring about any change.

“Nobody cares. If you focus on local issues that you can change and influence, right, you have my vote.

“But don’t try to take advantage of this Gaza thing by saying you’re the man who’s going to bring about change – because you’re not.”