- Two British Labour MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were detained and deported by Israel.
- Israel accused the MPs of planning to ‘document security forces and spread hateful rhetoric’.
- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the action as ‘unacceptable and deeply concerning’.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch supported Israel’s decision, sparking political debate.
- The MPs were part of a delegation to visit humanitarian projects in the West Bank.
UK Minister Condemns Israel’s Detention of British MPs as ‘Unacceptable’
British politicians, including members of the government, have expressed outrage over Israel’s detention and deportation of two Labour MPs over the weekend, treating the incident as an insult to the UK. However, the Conservative leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch has backed Israel’s move, leading to Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s accusation that she was ‘cheerleading’ for Israel.
Detention and Deportation of British MPs
Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were detained by the Israeli authorities and deported on Saturday after trying to enter the country as part of a parliamentary delegation. Israel claimed the parliamentarians, who said they were ‘astounded’ by their deportation, were suspected of wanting to ‘document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric against Israel’.
UK Government’s Response
The move triggered widespread outrage among Labour MPs, with Lammy himself condemning the move as ‘unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning’. ‘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 foreign secretary said.
Political Reactions
Labour MP Imran Hussain said on Monday that Mohamed and Yang were ‘disgracefully detained’. He added: ‘This isn’t just an attack on them, it’s an attack on all parliamentarians who uphold international law.’ Emily Thornberry, a senior MP and chair of the foreign affairs select committee which scrutinises foreign policy, condemned Israel’s treatment of the parliamentarians as an ‘insult to our country and to parliament’.
Conservative Support for Israel
But the Conservative Party’s Kemi Badenoch took a different approach. In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the Tory leader threw her support behind Israel’s decision, arguing that ‘every country should be allowed to police its own borders’. The MPs were travelling to the occupied West Bank, which the UK government recognises as occupied Palestinian territory.
Lammy’s Criticism of Badenoch
In response, Lammy took to social media platform X to slam Badenoch. ‘It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs,’ he said. ‘Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China? This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party.’
MPs’ Statement
Mohamed and Yang said on Sunday: ‘Parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthfully in the House of Commons without fear of being targeted.’ They added: ‘We had come on an MPs’ delegation to visit humanitarian aid projects and communities in the West Bank with UK charity partners who have over a decade of experience in taking parliamentary delegations.’
Background of the MPs
Since they were elected in 2024, both Mohamed and Yang have been vocal critics of Israel’s war on Gaza, making multiple parliamentary interventions over the issue. Mohamed, who represents Sheffield Central, is a member of the foreign affairs select committee, which scrutinises the Foreign Office, and went on a trip to Israel in early March.
The detention and deportation of British MPs by Israel has sparked a significant political debate in the UK, with strong reactions from both the Labour and Conservative parties. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the UK and Israel over the treatment of parliamentarians and the broader Israel-Palestine conflict.