Two MPs 'astounded' after being denied entry to Israel

Two Labour MPs are "astounded" after being denied entry to Israel. They were on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank.

Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang believe it is vital for parliamentarians to see the situation in Palestinian territories firsthand. However, Israeli authorities refused them entry, claiming they intended to "spread hate speech."

Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized this decision. He called it "unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning." In contrast, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch supported Israel's right to control its borders.

Yang and Mohamed flew from London Luton Airport with two aides on Saturday afternoon. The Israeli immigration authority stated that Interior Minister Moshe Arbel denied entry after questioning them. They were accused of traveling to "document the security forces."

The Israeli embassy in London issued a statement saying they would not allow individuals acting against the state. It claimed that Mohamed and Yang had made false accusations against Israel and promoted sanctions against its ministers.

The embassy also noted their support for boycotts during a time of war for Israel. The UK Foreign Office mentioned that the group was part of a parliamentary delegation, but Israeli officials did not acknowledge it.

The Israeli embassy said the MPs declined hotel accommodation offered to them. Their return flight costs were covered by Israel's Interior Ministry, which confirmed they left early on Sunday.

Mohamed and Yang organized their trip with UK charities experienced in parliamentary delegations. They stated that many MPs have spoken out about the Israel-Palestine conflict recently.

They emphasized that parliamentarians should speak freely in Parliament without fear of targeting. Lammy added that the Foreign Office contacted both MPs to offer support.

He expressed his concerns to Israeli officials about how British parliamentarians were treated. The Council for Arab-British Understanding and Medical Aid for Palestinians organized the trip as part of a long-standing program.

They clarified that their aims included visiting humanitarian projects in the West Bank. The group informed the UK consul general in Jerusalem about their visit and planned meetings as part of their itinerary.

Both MPs have been active regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict since being elected in 2024. In February, Mohamed initiated a letter signed by 61 MPs calling for a ban on goods from Israeli settlements.

She has criticized Israel for withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza, citing international law prohibiting starvation as warfare. Yang has advocated for sanctions against certain Israeli ministers due to their controversial statements about settlements.

She has also raised awareness about dangerous conditions faced by journalists and medical professionals in Palestinian territories. When asked about Israel's decision, Badenoch stated countries should control their borders.

She found it shocking that Labour MPs are not allowed into other countries. Emily Thornberry rebuffed her comments, calling Yang and Mohamed "highly respected parliamentarians."

Thornberry argued that alienating these MPs is an insult to Britain and Parliament. Sir Ed Davey criticized Badenoch’s judgment regarding this issue as well.

Lammy labeled her comments "disgraceful," questioning if she felt similarly about Tory MPs banned from China.

During ongoing conflicts in Gaza, there have been protests and violent incidents reported in the West Bank with hundreds of deaths documented there.

Israeli troops continue operations in occupied Palestinian territory; two Palestinians were killed recently during these actions.

The current war began on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and hostages taken back to Gaza.

Since then, over 50,000 people have reportedly died according to Gaza's health ministry data following ongoing violence since March 18 ceasefire ended.

Lammy reiterated that the UK government aims to secure a ceasefire and negotiations to end bloodshed while freeing hostages.