Israel deports two British MPs amid Gaza medics' killings backlash

Israel detained and deported two British Members of Parliament (MPs), Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, upon their arrival from London as part of a parliamentary delegation. The Israeli immigration ministry stated that the MPs were suspected of intending to “document security force activities and promote anti-Israel sentiment.” The British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, condemned Israel’s actions, labeling them as “counterproductive” and “deeply concerning.” Lammy assured that the UK government was focused on achieving a ceasefire and negotiating peace to halt the violence, free hostages, and end the Gaza conflict.

Yang and Mohamed expressed their shock at being denied entry, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary figures observing the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories firsthand. The MPs noted their longstanding advocacy for international humanitarian law in Parliament. They also stressed that parliamentarians should feel free to speak candidly without fear of retaliation.

In a broader context, Israel’s actions follow previous instances where prominent international figures, such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the European Parliament, were denied entry to the country.

The detention of these MPs occurred amidst growing international scrutiny over Israel’s actions, particularly following a controversial video that contradicted Israel’s claims regarding the killing of 15 Palestinian medics by Israeli forces. The video, filmed by one of the victims, showed emergency vehicles with flashing lights and logos being targeted by gunfire, resulting in the deaths of eight Red Crescent staff, six Civil Defence workers, and a UN worker.

Israel’s military had earlier justified the attack by claiming the vehicles approached suspiciously. However, human rights experts, including Geoffrey Nice, have criticized Israel’s actions, calling for further international pressure to explain the killings, which some believe to be part of an established practice within the Israeli military. The ongoing conflict, which reignited after a short ceasefire in mid-March, has led to significant casualties in Gaza.