Israel’s detention of 2 British Labour MPs ‘unacceptable’, UK foreign secretary says
David Lammy ‘deeply concerned’ after Chinese-born Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, who was born in Yemen, denied entry to Israel and deported
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Saturday it was “unacceptable” that Israel had detained two UK lawmakers and denied them entry.
Chinese-born Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, who was born in Yemen – both Labour MPs – flew from London to Israel to visit the occupied West Bank but were blocked from entering Israel and deported back to the UK, British media reported.
“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 said in a statement.
“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 securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.”
In a joint statement, the two MPs said they were “astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities to refuse British MPs entry on our trip to visit the occupied West Bank”.