Israel Detains Two British MPs, Refuses Entry to Parliamentary Delegation

LONDON: Israel has detained two British members of parliament and refused entry to the officials who were visiting as part of a parliamentary delegation, British foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement late on Saturday.

Background of the Incident

Sky News, citing a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry, says that the detained parliamentarians are Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, who were rejected because they were suspected of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred.”

The MPs’ Background

Yang represents the Earley and Woodley constituency, while Mohamed is the MP for Sheffield Central. Both had flown to Israel from Luton on Saturday, Sky News said.

Response from the UK Government

“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,” 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,” he further added.

Context and Repercussions

The detention of the two British MPs has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, with many calling it a violation of diplomatic norms and a breach of human rights. The incident has also raised questions about the Israeli government’s treatment of foreign officials and its stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

International Reaction

The international community has also weighed in on the issue, with several countries expressing concern and calling for the immediate release of the detained MPs. The European Union, the United States, and several other countries have urged Israel to respect the rights of foreign officials and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.

Conclusion

The detention of the two British MPs by Israel is a worrying development that highlights the tensions and complexities of the conflict in Gaza. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. In the meantime, the UK government’s focus remains on securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.

FAQs

Q: Who are the detained British MPs?

A: The detained MPs are Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed.

Q: Why were they detained?

A: They were detained because they were suspected of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred.”

Q: What is the UK government’s response?

A: The UK government has condemned the detention and has been in contact with both MPs to offer support. The government is also focused on securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.

Q: What is the international reaction?

A: Several countries, including the European Union, the United States, and others, have expressed concern and have called for the immediate release of the detained MPs. They have also urged Israel to respect the rights of foreign officials and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.