Diplomatic Storm as Two Labour MPs Denied Entry to Israel and Deported
MPs Barred Over Security Concerns at Ben Gurion Airport
A diplomatic row has erupted after Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were denied entry into Israel and swiftly deported on Saturday, 5 April 2025. The two MPs, representing Earley and Woodley and Sheffield Central, arrived from Luton but were stopped at Ben Gurion Airport.
Israel’s immigration ministry accused the pair of planning to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred.” Authorities claimed the MPs falsely billed their trip as an “official parliamentary delegation.”
Israel Cites Security Threats and Political Motives
Officials warned their presence threatened public order, pointing to the MPs’ history of backing boycotts and sanctions against Israeli ministers. The Israeli UK embassy said the visit aimed to “harm Israeli citizens” amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Under Israeli law, the government can bar anyone deemed a security threat – a policy Israeli officials compared to similar UK measures.
MPs Push Back: “Vital to Witness the Occupied Territories”
Yang and Mohamed hit back hard, insisting their trip was to monitor humanitarian projects in the West Bank. In a joint statement, they said:
“It is vital that parliamentarians witness first-hand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. This unprecedented step by Israeli authorities is deeply concerning.”
Both MPs have consistently called for a Gaza ceasefire and criticised Israeli settlements in Parliament. Yang has championed sanctions against pro-settlement ministers, while Mohamed is Britain’s first Yemeni MP and a staunch Palestinian rights supporter.
UK Government Weighs In as Tensions Mount
Foreign Secretary David Lammy blasted the deportation as “unacceptable and deeply concerning,” insisting British MPs must be free to travel to Israel. He added:
“I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians.”
Meanwhile, Labour Friends of Israel called the move “counterproductive,” and Commons Foreign Affairs chair Emily Thornberry branded it an “insult to Britain.”
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended Israel’s right to control its borders, hinting the MPs’ criticism of Israel influenced the ban. Lammy condemned her comments as “disgraceful,” warning this could justify similar treatment of UK MPs abroad.
Public Outcry and Diplomatic Fallout
The incident has sparked fierce debate online. Some back Israel’s tough stance; others see it as a clampdown on democratic freedoms. This marks the first time Israel has barred British MPs, raising fresh questions about UK-Israel relations amid the brutal Gaza conflict.
The UK Foreign Office supports the MPs, who returned home Sunday, and has demanded a full explanation from Israeli authorities. With tensions high, both nations tread carefully as the diplomatic spat unfolds.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
