Israel deports Britain's Labour MPs; Tory leader hails decision

British Labour Party MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang have expressed shock after being refused entry to Israel during a planned visit to the West Bank under Israeli occupation. The parliamentarians, representing Sheffield Central and Earley and Woodley, respectively, were part of a delegation organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding and Medical Aid for Palestinians. The groups, which have facilitated such trips for over a decade, aimed to allow the MPs to witness firsthand the conditions in the Palestinian territory.

 

The incident, marking the first time Israel has barred British MPs, unfolded on April 5 when Mohamed and Yang, accompanied by two aides, arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport from London. Israeli authorities detained and questioned the group before denying them entry.

 

Israel’s Interior Ministry, led by Minister Moshe Arbel, accused the MPs of intending to “spread hate speech” and “document the security forces”. The Israeli embassy in London claimed that lawmakers had “accused Israel of false claims” and supported boycotts, including the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Israeli law allows immigration officials to keep out non-citizens who support the BDS movement. 

 

Mohamed and Yang, both elected in 2024, have been vocal on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Mohamed initiated a letter earlier this year, signed by 61 MPs and lords, calling for a ban on goods from Israeli settlements, citing an International Court of Justice opinion. She has also condemned Israel’s restrictions on Gaza aid, arguing that international law “prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare”. Yang, meanwhile, has advocated sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for promoting settlements in northern Gaza.

 

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy denounced the deportation as “unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning”, stressing that Israel should not treat British parliamentarians this way. “I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians,” he said. The MPs, offered hotel accommodation which they declined, were deported on April 6, with Israel buying their return tickets.

 

The move sparked a political row in the UK. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended Israel’s right to “control its borders”, expressing concern over Labour MPs’ “rhetoric” and alleging they repeat “misinformation” and “conspiracy theories”. “What I think is shocking is that we have MPs in Labour [who] other countries won’t allow through,” she said. Lammy retorted on X: “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs.” 

 

Badenoch fired back, noting that unlike China Israel was an ally and a democracy. She also brought in a reference to Kashmir, saying that the Labour MPs could put British interests first and do their jobs instead of campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in parliament.

 

The MPs, however, remain defiant. “It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness firsthand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,” they said, lamenting the “unprecedented step” by Israel. The incident has demonstrated once again the deepening divide in Britain over the Israel-Palestine conflict, and also the Netanyahu government getting further emboldened handling international criticism on its policy regarding Palestinians.

Middle East