TWO Labour MPs have been detained and deported out of Israel – with Foreign Secretary David Lammy slamming the decision.
Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were booted out of the country after being interrogated at an Israeli airport.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has slammed Israel’s decision to deport two British MPs[/caption]
Israel‘s immigration ministry suspected the pair of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”.
David Lammy criticised the detention of the two MPs, calling it “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning”.
The Foreign Secretary added that the rejection was “no way to treat British parliamentarians”.
He said in a statement: “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.
“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 added: “The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.”
Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, and Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, both flew to Ben-Gurion airport in Israel from Luton on Saturday.
A statement from the Israeli immigration ministry said that they were accompanied by two assistants.
The ministry added that during questioning, the MPs said they were visiting Israel as “part of an official parliamentary delegation”.
The immigration ministry branded these claims as “false” before they were kicked out.
Israel’s UK embassy said the two were denied entry after “accusing Israel of false claims”.
The embassy also said the pair were booted out after “calling for a boycott, spreading lies, and actively promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers while supporting campaigns aimed at boycotting the State of Israel”.
They said in a statement: “The 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).”
Kemi Badenoch has said she is “not surprised” that the two Labour MPs were denied entry to Israel.
Speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, the Conservative leader said: “I think that every country should be able to control its borders, and that’s what Israel is doing, as far as I understand.
“They gave reasons why they didn’t believe that those people should come in based on their laws.
“And it’s really important that we respect other countries enforcing their borders.
“Those Labour MPs, according to the Israelis, were coming in to do something that they were not allowed to do, and so I respect thatdecision.”
Asked whether it “seems a bit odd”, Ms Badenoch added: “I’m not surprised.”
Yuan Yang was elected as MP for Earley and Woodley in 2024 in the new constituency’s first ever election.
She is the first Chinese-born Brit to be elected to Parliament, and the second of Chinese ethnicity after Conservative MP Alan Mak.
Abtisam Mohamed was elected as a Labour MP for Sheffield Central, also in July last year, and was the first Arab woman to be elected to Parliament.
The deportation comes after Labour MPs, including Mohamed and Yang, have applied pressure on Keir Starmer’s government to take a harder line on Israel.
During a Commons debate in March, Mohamed asked if the government would “confirm that the decision to block all aid to Gaza, collectively punishing the entire population, is a war crime and a breach of international law”.
Labour has already blocked some British arms shipments amid concerns over the war in Gaza.
Lammy hinted at weapon sanctions in September last year, saying that a full arms embargo on Israel would be a mistake, while leaving the door open to further curbs.
Ben-Gurion International airport, where the two Brit MPs were detained[/caption]
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