Two UK lawmakers from the ruling Labour Party have criticized Israel’s decision to block their entry during an official delegation trip, marking the latest incident in which British MPs denied entry to Israel has sparked diplomatic tension.
Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were turned away by Israeli authorities upon arrival. The Israeli embassy in London claimed the MPs intended to incite anti-Israel sentiment and were linked to boycott campaigns and calls for sanctions against Israeli officials.
In a joint statement after returning to the UK, the MPs said: “We’re astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities to refuse British MPs entry on our trip to visit the occupied West Bank.” They stressed the importance of allowing lawmakers to “witness first-hand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
Israeli Embassy Cites Provocation and Support for Sanctions
The Israeli embassy justified the move by stating that Mohamed and Yang had made “false accusations against Israel,” supported sanctions targeting Israeli ministers, and promoted boycott initiatives. However, the MPs maintained they had only spoken about upholding international law and the right of parliamentarians to “speak truthfully without being targeted.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized Israel’s decision, stating it was not an appropriate way to treat elected members of Parliament.
Past Precedents of Barred Foreign Officials
The incident follows a pattern of similar actions by Israel. In 2019, US Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were barred from entry due to their criticism of Israeli policies. Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, was later offered entry on humanitarian grounds to visit her grandmother, but declined due to what she called “oppressive” conditions requiring her to refrain from boycott advocacy.
More recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres was reportedly denied entry over his alleged failure to unequivocally condemn an Iranian missile attack on Israel.
Rising Casualties in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
While the diplomatic row unfolded, violence continued in Gaza. The civil defense agency in Gaza reported at least 44 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes on Sunday alone, with dozens more injured. Israel has intensified its military operations in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks and blamed Hamas for delaying ceasefire negotiations and the release of Israeli hostages.
In retaliation, Hamas fired rockets into Israeli cities including Ashdod and Ashkelon, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reporting that most were intercepted. One injury was reported in Ashkelon. Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, Germany, and other nations, claimed responsibility for the attacks.
