Two British MPs denied entry' into Israel during official West Bank visit

"Opher's office said in a statement on Tuesday that the purpose of the visit, organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding, was to enable members of parliament to witness the vital medical and humanitarian work of a range of organisations including Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) in the occupied West Bank. It added: It is deeply regrettable that Israeli authorities prevented them from seeing first-hand the grave challenges facing medical facilities in the region and from hearing the British government's assessment of the situation on the ground."

"Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were rejected because they were suspected of plans to document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred, according to the Israeli immigration ministry. The decision was criticised at the time by David Lammy, then foreign secretary, who said: It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities."

"Opher, the MP for Stroud and chair of the all-party parliamentary group for health, has returned to the UK from Jordan. Prior to his election to parliament, he was a full time GP in Dursley. Prinsley, the MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, has been an NHS surgeon in East Anglia for 30 years."

Two British MPs were denied entry into Israel while travelling on a parliamentary delegation to the occupied West Bank. The delegation was due to meet British diplomats in Jerusalem and Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations. The visit aimed to enable MPs to witness medical and humanitarian work by organisations including Medical Aid for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. One MP returned to the UK from Jordan. Both MPs have medical backgrounds. In April, two other Labour MPs were also deported after Israeli authorities said they suspected plans to document security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred, a decision criticised by the then foreign secretary.

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