Two British Labour Party MPs, Yvonne Fovargue and Apsana Begum, were detained and barred from entering Israel at Ben Gurion Airport, prompting criticism from the lawmakers and a diplomatic response from Tel Aviv.
The incident, reported by Al Jazeera, has intensified discussions over Israel’s restrictions on foreign officials critical of its policies.
The MPs stated they had planned a humanitarian visit to the West Bank to assess conditions for Palestinian residents. “We were shocked by Israel’s decision to block our entry,” they said in a joint statement. “Parliamentarians must be permitted to engage with communities in the West Bank and speak freely on human rights issues without fear of retaliation.”
Israel’s Embassy in London defended the move, alleging the MPs intended to participate in “anti-Israeli activities” and promote “false accusations” against the state. Israeli media earlier claimed the duo aimed to document Israeli security operations and “spread hatred,” accusations the MPs strongly denied.
Fovargue and Begum, both vocal advocates for Palestinian rights, have previously called for sanctions against Israel over its military actions in Gaza. Their exclusion highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and critics of its occupation policies.
The UK government has yet to issue an official response, but the incident has reignited debates over freedom of movement for elected officials and Israel’s handling of international critics.
Al Jazeera