Two British Labour MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, have expressed shock and dismay after being denied entry into Israel during a visit intended to observe humanitarian conditions in the occupied West Bank. The move, which has sparked significant political debate in the UK, has been condemned by senior figures as both “unacceptable” and a potential diplomatic misstep.
The two parliamentarians, elected in 2024, were part of a delegation organized in collaboration with UK-based charities with a longstanding history of facilitating parliamentary trips to the region. Their itinerary included visits to humanitarian and development projects, with full transparency reportedly maintained with British consular officials in Jerusalem.
However, upon arrival from London, Israeli immigration authorities turned the MPs away, accusing them of intending to “spread hate speech” and acting against the state. According to Israel’s Interior Ministry, the decision was based on the MPs’ alleged support for boycotts and sanctions, and their previous public criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Israeli embassy in London defended the move, citing national security and asserting that entry would not be granted to individuals perceived as hostile to the Israeli state during a time of ongoing conflict.
In response, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the denial “deeply concerning” and stressed that elected officials must be free to carry out their duties without interference. “This is no way to treat British parliamentarians,” he said, confirming the Foreign Office had contacted the MPs to offer support.
Labour’s foreign affairs committee chair, Emily Thornberry, denounced the incident as an “insult to Parliament” and a troubling attempt to alienate respected public servants. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey joined the chorus of criticism, accusing the Israeli government of overreach and condemning Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for defending the decision.
Badenoch, speaking on a BBC program, maintained that every nation has the right to control its borders and suggested it was telling that certain MPs were not welcome abroad, which sparked further backlash from opposition leaders.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While Israel continues military operations in multiple fronts, international scrutiny over its actions in Palestinian territories has intensified.
Despite the setback, Mohamed and Yang have stood by their stance on upholding international humanitarian law and vowed to continue advocating for transparency and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
