An MP denied entry and deported from Israel has accused the state of «control and censorship». Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed told the House of Commons: «This act was not just a diplomatic affront, this wasn’t about security. It was about control and censorship and the exposure of Israel. No state, however powerful, should be beyond criticism.» Ms Mohamed and fellow Labour MP Yuan Yang were denied entry to Israel when they arrived there on Saturday as part of a parliamentary delegation to visit humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank, they said. The two women were then deported, sparking a political row in which the Israelis have accused them of being there to «provoke anti-Israel activities» following comments they have made in parliament.
Ms Mohamed said it had been «a challenging few days» and that the two MPs are not the only ones who have been «speaking about the atrocities» and calling for change. She said many Israelis and Israeli charities were also doing so.
Ms Yang, a former journalist, told the Commons she «understands deeply the significance of bearing witness» and understood the risks, «but I did not, however, anticipate the risks of detention and deportation from a British ally». She said their deportation proves what MPs say in the Commons «matters», and she asked the Middle East minister what the government can do to ensure future delegations of MPs «can do so without having to censor their remarks». Ms Yang revealed another delegation of MPs was set to visit the West Bank this weekend.
Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said he would encourage MPs to continue to speak out on Israel and Gaza and advised MPs going to Israel to talk to the Foreign Office in advance.
Government needs to make it clear this is ‘unacceptable’
Earlier, the head of the group who organised the MPs’ trip told Sky News the government needed to make it «very clear» to the Israelis it was «unacceptable» to have denied them entry. Chris Doyle, director of Caabu, said he wanted the government to tell the Israelis the deportations «should be revoked». On Sunday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he had spoken to his Israeli counterparts and made it clear «this is no way to treat British parliamentarians». «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,» he added.
Read more: Who are the two MPs deported from Israel? ‘Atrocious’ killing of aid workers by Israel must be independently investigated
What have Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed said about Israel?
Former journalist Ms Yang has only spoken once in the Commons about Israel-Gaza since she became an MP last year. She called on the government to ensure journalists can work safely in Gaza and then posted on X about many of her former Financial Times colleagues being denied entry to Gaza by Israel, as have all international reporters. Ms Mohamed is Yemeni-Muslim and has been outspoken against Israel in her role on the Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking in the Commons five times on the topic since becoming an MP last July. The MP has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as «war crimes», something Israel has rejected. She also spearheaded a cross-party call from 61 MPs for a UK ban on Israeli goods.
It is ‘right’ MPs visit West Bank
Mr Doyle has been Caabu’s director for 23 years and said Ms Yang and Ms Mohamed were visiting as part of a «long-running programme» that has seen the organization take MPs and peers from all parties to the occupied West Bank, and previously to Gaza, to «assess the situation on the ground». Caabu has taken 161 politicians there since 1997, including party leaders and MPs now in the cabinet, Mr Doyle said. He said the two MPs and their two aides had been set to meet Oxfam and UN representatives, which he said is the «right and proper thing» because the UK is a major donor to projects there, giving hundreds of millions of pounds over the years.
Israel: MPs promoted sanctions
Israel’s UK embassy said the MPs were denied entry because they had «accused Israel of false claims, were actively involved in promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers, and supported campaigns aimed at boycotting the state of Israel». Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has caused consternation among many MPs after saying Israel «has a right to police its borders» and that the government’s travel advice states if you have called for a boycott of Israel or Israeli settlements, or publicly criticized Israel, you can be refused entry.
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