Israel Denies Entry to UK MPs
Israeli authorities asserted that two pro-Palestinian British MPs attempted to spread hate speech during their visit and subsequently denied them entry into Israel, leading to their deportation. Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, members of the...
TroibNews 
Israeli authorities asserted that two pro-Palestinian British MPs attempted to spread hate speech during their visit and subsequently denied them entry into Israel, leading to their deportation.
Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, members of the governing Labour Party, arrived in Tel Aviv at 2:30 PM local time on Saturday, accompanied by two aides. During their interrogation at Ben Gurion Airport, they claimed to be part of an official UK parliamentary delegation, a statement that Israeli immigration officials deemed “false.”
Local officials alleged that the lawmakers sought to “document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric.” Interior Minister Moshe Arbel instructed their removal “in accordance with the law.”
The Israeli Embassy in London issued a statement noting that the MPs were barred from entry “after accusing Israel of false claims, calling for a boycott, spreading lies, and actively promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers while supporting campaigns aimed at boycotting the State of Israel.”
According to the embassy, as relayed by British media, “The visit was intended to provoke, harm Israeli citizens, and spread falsehoods about them.” They emphasized that “it is Israel’s responsibility to prevent the entry of such individuals.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy deemed the decision “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning.” He stated, “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.” Lammy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza.”
Mohamed, recognized as the UK’s first MP of Yemeni descent, has been an outspoken critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, accusing the state of “ethnic cleansing.” She has previously urged the British government to “review its relationship with Israel” and initiated a campaign aimed at banning goods from the country.
Yang, the country’s first Chinese-born MP, has called for the UK government to impose sanctions on Israeli officials.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, members of the governing Labour Party, arrived in Tel Aviv at 2:30 PM local time on Saturday, accompanied by two aides. During their interrogation at Ben Gurion Airport, they claimed to be part of an official UK parliamentary delegation, a statement that Israeli immigration officials deemed “false.”
Local officials alleged that the lawmakers sought to “document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric.” Interior Minister Moshe Arbel instructed their removal “in accordance with the law.”
The Israeli Embassy in London issued a statement noting that the MPs were barred from entry “after accusing Israel of false claims, calling for a boycott, spreading lies, and actively promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers while supporting campaigns aimed at boycotting the State of Israel.”
According to the embassy, as relayed by British media, “The visit was intended to provoke, harm Israeli citizens, and spread falsehoods about them.” They emphasized that “it is Israel’s responsibility to prevent the entry of such individuals.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy deemed the decision “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning.” He stated, “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.” Lammy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza.”
Mohamed, recognized as the UK’s first MP of Yemeni descent, has been an outspoken critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, accusing the state of “ethnic cleansing.” She has previously urged the British government to “review its relationship with Israel” and initiated a campaign aimed at banning goods from the country.
Yang, the country’s first Chinese-born MP, has called for the UK government to impose sanctions on Israeli officials.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
