This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9133z2v30o
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed 'astounded' after being denied entry to Israel | Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed 'astounded' after being denied entry to Israel |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Abtisam Mohamed (left) and Yuan Yang have now left the country | Abtisam Mohamed (left) and Yuan Yang have now left the country |
| Two Labour MPs say they are "astounded" to have been denied entry to Israel while on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank. | Two Labour MPs say they are "astounded" to have been denied entry to Israel while on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank. |
| Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang said it was "vital" parliamentarians were able to witness the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory first-hand. | Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang said it was "vital" parliamentarians were able to witness the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory first-hand. |
| They were refused entry because they intended to "spread hate speech" against Israel, the nation's population and immigration authority said. | They were refused entry because they intended to "spread hate speech" against Israel, the nation's population and immigration authority said. |
| Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticised Israeli authorities, describing the move as "unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning". | Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticised Israeli authorities, describing the move as "unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning". |
| But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Israel had a right to "control its borders", adding it was "significant" there were Labour MPs other countries did not want to let in. | But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Israel had a right to "control its borders", adding it was "significant" there were Labour MPs other countries did not want to let in. |
| Yang, the MP for Earley and Woodley, and Mohamed, the MP for Sheffield Central, flew to Israel from London Luton Airport with two aides on Saturday afternoon. | Yang, the MP for Earley and Woodley, and Mohamed, the MP for Sheffield Central, flew to Israel from London Luton Airport with two aides on Saturday afternoon. |
| The Israeli immigration authority said Interior Minister Moshe Arbel denied entry to all four passengers after they were questioned. It accused them of travelling to "document the security forces". | The Israeli immigration authority said Interior Minister Moshe Arbel denied entry to all four passengers after they were questioned. It accused them of travelling to "document the security forces". |
| The Israeli embassy in London said in a statement on Saturday that the country "will not allow the entry of individuals or entities that act against the state and its citizens". | The Israeli embassy in London said in a statement on Saturday that the country "will not allow the entry of individuals or entities that act against the state and its citizens". |
| It said Mohamed and Yang had "accused Israel of false claims" and were "actively involved in promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers". | It said Mohamed and Yang had "accused Israel of false claims" and were "actively involved in promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers". |
| It also said they had supported campaigns aimed at boycotting the country "at a time when Israel is at war and under attack on seven fronts". | It also said they had supported campaigns aimed at boycotting the country "at a time when Israel is at war and under attack on seven fronts". |
| The UK Foreign Office said the group was part of a parliamentary delegation. However, Israel's immigration authority said the delegation had not been acknowledged by an Israeli official. | The UK Foreign Office said the group was part of a parliamentary delegation. However, Israel's immigration authority said the delegation had not been acknowledged by an Israeli official. |
| The Israeli embassy said the MPs "were offered hotel accommodation, which they declined" and the cost of their return flight to the UK was covered. | The Israeli embassy said the MPs "were offered hotel accommodation, which they declined" and the cost of their return flight to the UK was covered. |
| Israel's Interior Ministry said the MPs left the country early on Sunday. | Israel's Interior Ministry said the MPs left the country early on Sunday. |
| Mohamed and Yang said their trip had been organised with UK charities that had "over a decade of experience in taking parliamentary delegations". | Mohamed and Yang said their trip had been organised with UK charities that had "over a decade of experience in taking parliamentary delegations". |
| "We are two, out of scores of MPs, who have spoken out in Parliament in recent months on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the importance of complying with international humanitarian law," the MPs said in a joint statement. | "We are two, out of scores of MPs, who have spoken out in Parliament in recent months on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the importance of complying with international humanitarian law," the MPs said in a joint statement. |
| "Parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthful in the House of Commons, without fear of being targeted." | "Parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthful in the House of Commons, without fear of being targeted." |
| Lammy said the Foreign Office had been in touch with both MPs to offer support, adding: "I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians." | Lammy said the Foreign Office had been in touch with both MPs to offer support, adding: "I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians." |
| The Council for Arab-British Understanding and Medical Aid for Palestinians - the latter of which is a registered UK charity - said in a joint statement that they had organised the trip. | The Council for Arab-British Understanding and Medical Aid for Palestinians - the latter of which is a registered UK charity - said in a joint statement that they had organised the trip. |
| "This visit was part of that long-standing programme," they said. | "This visit was part of that long-standing programme," they said. |
| "When questioned, the group was clear, open and transparent about the aims and objectives of the visit, which included visiting a range of projects run by humanitarian and development organisations operating in the West Bank. | "When questioned, the group was clear, open and transparent about the aims and objectives of the visit, which included visiting a range of projects run by humanitarian and development organisations operating in the West Bank. |
| "The group had informed the UK consul general in Jerusalem of their visit and was planning to meet with them as part of the itinerary." | "The group had informed the UK consul general in Jerusalem of their visit and was planning to meet with them as part of the itinerary." |
| Watch: "Countries should be able to control their borders" - Badenoch on MPs denied entry to Israel | Watch: "Countries should be able to control their borders" - Badenoch on MPs denied entry to Israel |
| Both Yang and Mohamed - who were first elected in 2024 - have made several interventions on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Parliament. | Both Yang and Mohamed - who were first elected in 2024 - have made several interventions on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Parliament. |
| In February, Mohamed initiated a cross-party letter, signed by 61 MPs and lords, calling for a ban on goods from Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, citing an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). | In February, Mohamed initiated a cross-party letter, signed by 61 MPs and lords, calling for a ban on goods from Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, citing an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). |
| She has also criticised Israel for withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza, telling the House of Commons in October that international law "prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare", and has mentioned humanitarian organisations' claims of "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza. | She has also criticised Israel for withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza, telling the House of Commons in October that international law "prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare", and has mentioned humanitarian organisations' claims of "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza. |
| In January, Yang spoke in favour of bringing sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, after they suggested building Israeli settlements in northern Gaza to encourage Palestinians to leave. | In January, Yang spoke in favour of bringing sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, after they suggested building Israeli settlements in northern Gaza to encourage Palestinians to leave. |
| She has also highlighted the dangerous conditions journalists and medical professionals face while in the Palestinian territory. | She has also highlighted the dangerous conditions journalists and medical professionals face while in the Palestinian territory. |
| When asked about Israel's decision, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that countries "should be able to control their borders". | When asked about Israel's decision, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that countries "should be able to control their borders". |
| "What I think is shocking is that we have MPs in Labour [who] other countries won't allow through," Badenoch said. "I think that's very significant." | "What I think is shocking is that we have MPs in Labour [who] other countries won't allow through," Badenoch said. "I think that's very significant." |
| Watch: Israel decision to deny MPs entry an "insult to Britain" - Thornberry | |
| Her comments were rebuffed by Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, who described Yang and Mohamed as "highly respected parliamentarians" and "potential leaders". | Her comments were rebuffed by Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, who described Yang and Mohamed as "highly respected parliamentarians" and "potential leaders". |
| "Israel is badly advised to try and alienate them, to humiliate them and to treat them in this way," she told the programme. | "Israel is badly advised to try and alienate them, to humiliate them and to treat them in this way," she told the programme. |
| "I think that it's an insult to Britain and I think it's an insult to Parliament." | "I think that it's an insult to Britain and I think it's an insult to Parliament." |
| Sir Ed Davey accused Badenoch of "yet another complete shocker". | Sir Ed Davey accused Badenoch of "yet another complete shocker". |
| The Liberal Democrat leader said she "has once again shown unbelievably poor judgement by failing to back two British MPs denied entry to Israel". | The Liberal Democrat leader said she "has once again shown unbelievably poor judgement by failing to back two British MPs denied entry to Israel". |
| Lammy called Badenoch's comments "disgraceful", asking her: "Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?" | Lammy called Badenoch's comments "disgraceful", asking her: "Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?" |
| During the war in Gaza, there have been protests, violent incidents and raids by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Hundreds of deaths have been reported there. | During the war in Gaza, there have been protests, violent incidents and raids by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Hundreds of deaths have been reported there. |
| Israeli troops have been engaged in an extended operation in the occupied Palestinian territory, where two Palestinians were killed on Friday. | Israeli troops have been engaged in an extended operation in the occupied Palestinian territory, where two Palestinians were killed on Friday. |
| The current war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. | The current war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. |
| Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 50,000 people have been killed. It said 1,309 people have died since a ceasefire ended on 18 March. | Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 50,000 people have been killed. It said 1,309 people have died since a ceasefire ended on 18 March. |
| Lammy said: "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." | Lammy said: "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." |