British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday expressed concern over the detention and denial of entry to two British MPs in Israel, calling it an “unacceptable” and “counterproductive” move. Lammy also assured the support of British MPs and emphasised the UK Government’s continued efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and release detainees.
The Israeli government refused to allow Labor Party MPs Abtisam Mohammed and Yuan Yang to enter Israel. According to Israeli authorities, the MPs were detained because an investigation revealed that their aim was “documenting the activities of the Israeli security forces and spreading hatred against Israel.”
The two MPs had claimed they were part of an official British parliamentary delegation, but this claim proved to be false as no Israeli official confirmed such information. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Israeli authorities that this was an unfair treatment of British MPs. He said, “It is unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply worrying that two British MPs have been detained and refused entry to Israel.”
Lammy also said the British government’s focus was on a ceasefire and negotiations in Gaza to end the crisis.