Israel Detains, Deports Two British MPs Amid Gaza Tensions

Two British Labour MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, have been detained and deported by Israeli authorities, drawing sharp criticism from the UK government.

The lawmakers had traveled from London as part of a parliamentary delegation but were denied entry upon arrival in Israel. They were subsequently sent back, according to reports from British media.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the move on Saturday, calling it “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning.” He stated, “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 reiterated the UK’s priority amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, stressing the need for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an end to the conflict in Gaza.

The incident has sparked political debate within the UK. Conservative MP and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch told Sky News she was “not surprised” the Labour MPs were turned away, citing concerns over some of the rhetoric from within the Labour Party regarding Israel.

In a sharp rebuke, Lammy responded via X (formerly Twitter), writing, “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs.”

The diplomatic fallout comes as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza. The renewed offensive follows the collapse of a brief ceasefire last month. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 1,249 people have died since hostilities resumed, bringing the total death toll in the territory to over 50,000 since the war began in October 2023. That conflict was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, based on figures from Israeli authorities.