Tensions between the United Kingdom and Israel have escalated after Israeli authorities detained and deported two British Members of Parliament who sought to visit the occupied West Bank. The incident has prompted sharp criticism from UK officials and renewed scrutiny of British Israeli relations under the Labour government.
The MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were stopped upon arrival at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport. They were questioned and subsequently denied entry, before being deported. The visit had been organized in part by the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the MPs said their objective was to assess humanitarian conditions and visit local aid projects.
“We were astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities,” the MPs said in a joint statement. “It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness firsthand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
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Israel’s government defended the decision, accusing both lawmakers of supporting the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates economic pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Israeli law prohibits the entry of foreign nationals who support BDS.
A statement from Israeli authorities emphasized that the MPs were not part of an official UK delegation and cited previous comments by the two in support of boycotts. The Israeli government has taken similar steps in the past, including denying entry to two European Union lawmakers earlier this year.
In response, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the move. “It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British members of Parliament were refused entry,” Lammy said on Saturday evening. “I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians.”
The diplomatic fallout adds to growing strain between London and Tel Aviv. Under the current Labour government, the UK’s stance on Israel has shifted toward a more cautious approach. In September 2024, Britain suspended 30 of its 350 export licenses for military equipment to Israel, citing concerns about potential violations of international law during the war in Gaza.
These developments follow rising public pressure in the UK for a revaluation of Britain’s role in the conflict. Recent polls show a strong majority of the British public supports an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the suspension of arms sales to Israel amid allegations of humanitarian violations.
As tensions persist, the UK-Israel relationship faces mounting scrutiny, with questions emerging about how far Britain is willing to go to hold its ally accountable while balancing diplomatic and security interests in the region.
