Two MPs ‘astounded’ after being denied entry to Israel | EUROtoday

Two Labour MPs who have been denied entry to Israel have stated they’re “astounded” by the choice.

Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang have stated it’s “vital” that parliamentarians are in a position to “witness first-hand” the state of affairs on the bottom within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The present conflict in Gaza started on 7 October 2023, when Hamas fighters launched an assault inside Israel, killing round 1,200 folks and taking 251 hostages again to Gaza. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry says greater than 50,000 folks have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory navy offensive.

The MPs have been refused entry as a result of they meant to “spread hate speech” towards Israel, the nation’s inhabitants and immigration authority claimed.

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In a joint assertion posted on X, Ms Mohamed and Ms Yang on Sunday stated: “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.

“It is significant that parliamentarians are in a position to witness first-hand the state of affairs within the occupied Palestinian territory.”

The foreign secretary, David Lammy, said it was “deeply regarding” that they had not been allowed into the country.

The Israeli immigration authority said Interior Minister Moshe Arbel had denied entry to all four passengers after they were questioned. It accused them of travelling to “doc the safety forces”.

The Foreign Office said the group was part of a parliamentary delegation – however Israel’s immigration authority contested this claim, saying the delegation had not been acknowledged by any Israeli official. The MPs said the trip had been organised with UK charities that had “over a decade of expertise in taking parliamentary delegations”.

“We are two, out of scores of MPs, who’ve spoken out in parliament in latest months on the Israel-Palestine battle and the significance of complying with worldwide humanitarian legislation,” they said in their joint statement. “parliamentarians ought to be at liberty to talk honestly within the House of Commons, with out concern of being focused.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed Israel’s decision, arguing that “countries should be able to control their borders” and expressing “concern” about the rhetoric of some MPs around Israel.

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But Emily Thornberry, chairman of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said Israel “will rue the day that they did this to British parliamentarians”.

She told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “These are two women who are potential leaders, people listen to what they say… and Israel is badly advised to try to alienate and humiliate them and treat them in this way.

“Israel really needs to start making friends as opposed to alienating people. It’s an insult to Britain, it’s an insult to parliament and I am outraged.”

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Ms Yang represents the constituency of Earley and Woodley, in Berkshire, while Ms Mohamed represents Sheffield Central. Both were elected to Parliament last July.

The foreign secretary said he had “made clear” to his counterparts in the Israeli government that it is “no option to deal with British parliamentarians”.

Mr Lammy said: “It is unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply regarding that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities.

“I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.

“The UK Government’s focus stays securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to cease the bloodshed, free the hostages and finish the battle in Gaza.”