Two British MPs detained by Israel are heading home, says UK minister
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Foreign Secretary David Lammy says he has made it clear to his Israeli counterparts that "this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians".
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Two British members of parliament who were refused entry to Israel and briefly detained are travelling back to London, a British minister said on April 6.
Ms Yuan Yang and Ms Abtisam Mohamed from Britain’s governing Labour Party were visiting Israel as part of a parliamentary delegation but were barred because they were suspected of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”, Sky News reported, citing the Israeli immigration ministry.
“They are on their way home now,” Britain’s deputy finance minister Darren Jones told BBC television.
“The way that my colleagues have been treated is unacceptable, as the foreign secretary has said.”
The two MPs had flown to Israel from Luton on April 5, Sky News said.
“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,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement released late on April 5.
“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,” he added.
Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Gaza war began with a Hamas attack on Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023, with gunmen killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s campaign has so far killed more than 50,000 people, Gaza health authorities say.
A fragile ceasefire took effect in January but expired in March. REUTERS
