The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy strongly criticised Israel after authorities at Ben Gurion Airport denied entry to two British Labour MPs. The MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, arrived in Israel as part of a parliamentary delegation but were turned away and deported shortly after landing.

Israeli Officials Suspected MPs of Anti-Israel Intentions

Israeli immigration authorities claimed the two women MPs intended to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred.” Sky News cited this reasoning from the Israeli immigration ministry. Yang represents the Earley and Woodley constituency in Berkshire, while Mohamed serves as the MP for Sheffield Central.

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Delegation Turned Away at Airport

The two MPs, along with their aides, had flown into Israel from Luton. However, upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli officials detained the group for questioning. After the interrogation, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel ordered their deportation. Israeli authorities said they had not been informed in advance about an official parliamentary visit.

David Lammy Issues Strong Statement

Shortly after the incident, Foreign Secretary Lammy released a statement condemning the deportation. He 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.”

Lammy added that he had already spoken to Israeli officials about the matter. “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,” he said.

Moreover, Lammy emphasised the UK’s continued efforts to help resolve the Israel-Gaza conflict. “The UK government’s focus remains to secure a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza,” he stated.

UK Confirms Official Nature of Visit

In response to Israel’s claim that the visit was unofficial, the UK Foreign Office clarified that the MPs were indeed on a formal parliamentary delegation. British officials expressed concern over how Israeli authorities handled the situation.

Israeli Embassy in UK Justifies Deportation

Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in London defended the decision to deport the MPs. It said that Yang and Mohamed intended to “provoke, harm Israeli citizens, and spread falsehoods about them.”

In its statement, the embassy added, “It is Israel’s responsibility to prevent the entry of such individuals (just as is the practice in the United Kingdom).”

Israeli Media Highlights Internal Concerns

Several Israeli media outlets reported that the government viewed the MPs as hostile and likely to spread “hateful rhetoric.” This concern played a key role in the decision to deny them entry. Authorities claimed the MPs’ visit was not coordinated through proper diplomatic channels.