The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy slammed Israeli authorities for denying entry to two Labour MPs and deporting them from the country. The Israeli authorities rejected the two women MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed upon arrival.
The British politicians were suspected of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”, according to a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry cited by Sky News. Yang represents the Earley and Woodley constituency in Berkshire. Whereas, Mohamed is the MP from Sheffield Central.
The two MPs flew into Ben Gurion airport from Luton with their aides, according to reports. Shortly after the news broke out, the British foreign secretary released a statement condemning the Israeli authorities.
What Lammy said?
Lammy called the move “unacceptable and counterproductive”. “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,” the British foreign secretary said in a statement on Saturday.
“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 to secure a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza,” he added. Several Israeli media reported that the two MPs were refused entry into the Jewish nation because they intended to spread “hateful rhetoric” against Israel.
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Interior Minister Moshe Arbel denied entry to both the MPs and their aides following an interrogation, the population authority said according to the Times of Israel. As per the report, Israel had not verified the arrival of an official visit.
However, in a statement, the UK’s Foreign Office confirmed the group was part of a parliamentary delegation. Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in the UK said Ms Yang’s and Ms Mohamed’s visit was “intended to provoke, harm Israeli citizens, and spread falsehoods about them”.
“It is Israel’s responsibility to prevent the entry of such individuals (just as is the practice in the United Kingdom),” it added.
