ISRAEL has issued a statement on its decision to detain and deport two Labour MPs who were visiting the West Bank as part of an official parliamentary delegation.
Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were denied entry to the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces on Saturday night, saying they were "astounded" by their treatment.
According to a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry, cited by Sky News, the two MPs were rejected because they were suspected of plans to "document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred."
The statement adds that Mohamed and Yang were accompanied by two assistants on the trip and during questioning, the MPs claimed they were visiting Israel "as part of an official parliamentary delegation".
But Israeli officials branded the claim as "false", adding that immigration officers found "no evidence to support the claim... they were travelling as part of an official delegation".
"No politicians or government officials were aware they were coming," the statement added.
When The National approached the Foreign Office over Israel's claims, a spokesperson pointed towards a previous statement made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy that the pair were "on a parliamentary delegation to Israel".
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.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 5, 2025
Lammy said: "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.
"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."
Israel's UK embassy said in a statement 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".
It said the women "chose not to exercise their right under Israeli law to petition the court to reconsider the decision".
As a result, they were "offered hotel accommodation, which they declined" and their return flight was covered by the Israeli state.
The statement added: "The visit was intended to provoke anti-Israel activities at a time when Israel is at war and under attack on seven fronts. Its purpose was to harm Israel and Israeli citizens and spread falsehoods about them.
"The state of Israel has both the authority and the duty to prevent the entry of individuals whose presence in the country is intended to cause harm to its citizens - just as such authority exists in the United Kingdom."
