'Deeply concerning' as Yorkshire MP denied entry to Israel, says David Lammy
David Lammy has said it is “deeply concerning” that two British MPs - including one from Yorkshire - have been refused entry to Israel.
It is understood that Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed are the two parliamentarians involved.
Ms Mohamed represents the constituency of Sheffield Central, while Ms Yang represents Earley and Woodley on the outskirts of Reading.
Both were elected to Parliament last July.
The pair have said they are “astounded” by the decision of the Israeli authorities to not allow them into the country.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told Sky News that the pair were held at the airport on arrival.
“They’re now on the way home to the United Kingdom,” Mr Jones added.
“But the Foreign Secretary has spoken to his counterpart in the Israeli government overnight to say that clearly, it’s unacceptable for British members of parliament on a parliamentary delegation to be detained in that way.”
Ms Mohamed and Ms Yang, were denied entry because they were suspected of wanting to “to document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric against Israel”, the population authority said according to The Times Of Israel.
The pair have said they had made the trip with charity partners as part of an MPs’ delegation “to visit humanitarian aid projects and communities in the West Bank”.
In a statement on Sunday morning, Ms Yang and Ms Mohamed said it is “vital” that parliamentarians are able to “witness first-hand” the situation on the ground in Palestine.
They 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.
“It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness first-hand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
The message, shared on Ms Mohamed’s X page, said they have “spoken out in Parliament in recent months” on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and “parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthfully in the House of Commons without fear of being targeted”.
The Foreign Secretary said that he had “made clear” to his counterparts in the Israeli government that it is “no way” to treat parliamentarians.
In a statement on Saturday evening, the Foreign Secretary said: “It is unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning 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 remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.”