Harun Nasrullah
Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch has faced widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for defending Israel’s decision to deny entry to two British Labour MPs. The incident, described as unprecedented, has sparked strong condemnation from MPs of various parties, including members of Badenoch’s own party.
On April 5, Israeli authorities deported Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, who were part of a parliamentary delegation visiting the West Bank. The MPs had travelled to the region to inspect humanitarian aid projects and meet with local communities, working with UK charity partners. They were hosted by the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
Despite being granted entry clearance, the MPs were detained for six hours upon arrival in Tel Aviv. The UK government condemned the action, with Foreign Minister Hamish Falconer explaining in Parliament that efforts by the Foreign Secretary and Falconer to intervene had been unsuccessful. The MPs were ultimately deported, marking the first time British MPs had been barred from entering Israel. Falconer described the treatment of the MPs as “unacceptable and deeply concerning,” noting that it damaged Israel’s image and set a troubling precedent.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Israel’s actions, stating that he had raised the issue directly with the Israeli government. Lammy emphasized that the deportation of British MPs was an unacceptable move and that such actions undermine democratic principles.
The British government quickly offered its support to the MPs, with a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office stating, “The government has reached out to the MPs to offer support regarding their situation with the Israeli government. The Prime Minister has made it clear that the treatment of British MPs should not be dictated by party politics.” The spokesperson stressed that all British parliamentarians should be able to engage in legitimate diplomatic activities, regardless of their political affiliation.
On April 7, Abtisam Mohamed addressed the issue in Parliament, expressing gratitude for the support she received from the British government. Reflecting on the events, Mohamed stated: “What happened to me and my honourable friend, Yuan Yang, is unprecedented: we were denied entry based on our legitimate political opinions, which are firmly aligned with international law.”
She continued, “This act was not just a diplomatic affront. It wasn’t about security—it was about control and censorship.” Mohamed called for a two-state solution and for diplomatic efforts to ensure that future MPs could engage in similar activities without fear of being barred.
Yuan Yang also addressed the situation, thanking the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East for their support. Yang noted the importance of the trip, “Since I became an MP, the war in Gaza and the violence in the West Bank have remained top issues for my constituents. It was on their behalf that I joined the delegation.” She also emphasized the importance of speaking out in Parliament, saying, “What we say here matters. Our voice is powerful, and we must continue to use it without fear or favour.”
While opposition parties rallied behind the MPs, the Tory Party defended Israel’s actions. Wendy Morton, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, argued that Israel, as a key security partner for the UK, must be respected. “It is only by maintaining trust and respect that Britain can influence peace and security efforts in the Middle East,” she said. However, her comments were met with sharp criticism, including from Falconer, who questioned why the Conservative leadership failed to recognize the gravity of the situation. He pointed out that similar parliamentary delegations had been allowed to visit the West Bank without incident in the past, and criticized Badenoch’s defence of Israel as misguided.
Monica Harding (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrats) joined the chorus of dissent, delivering a scathing rebuke of both the Conservative Party leadership and the Shadow Minister’s comments. Harding expressed disappointment over the lack of unity in the House, noting, “I was shocked by the Leader of the Conservative Party’s comments yesterday morning, and I am deeply disappointed by the Shadow Minister’s comments today.” She stressed the importance of MPs being able to advocate freely on national and global issues, adding, “Israel’s actions are inconsistent with the behaviour we would expect from an ally and from a democracy. Transparency in the Middle East is vital for securing a long-lasting political settlement.”
Harding urged the Foreign Secretary to clarify to his Israeli counterpart that such treatment of parliamentarians is unacceptable, warning, “No further parliamentarians should be denied entry into Israel.”
The previous day, April 6, Kemi Badenoch had defended Israel’s actions during an appearance on Sky News. She stated, “I think every country should be able to control its borders, and that’s what Israel is doing.” She added that the MPs were “coming in to do something they were not allowed to do,” expressing respect for Israel’s decision.
Lammy responded to Badenoch’s comments on X, stating, “It’s disgraceful that you’re cheerleading for another country to detain and deport two British MPs.” He emphasized that the government would continue to stand up for the rights of MPs to speak their mind, regardless of their party.
Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised Badenoch’s defence of Israel’s actions, calling it “nonsense.” She stated, “You have to stand up for what’s right, Kemi Badenoch, and you should stand in solidarity with other parliamentarians who were just going to Israel and the West Bank to find out what was going on.”
Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey, also criticized Badenoch’s stance, calling it “unbelievably poor judgement” and “another complete shocker.” Stephen Flynn MP, Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Westminster, expressed his outrage over Israel’s actions, calling the denial of entry “absurd and outrageous.” He also questioned the selective outrage of Labour leadership, stating, “I stand with both. I can’t be the only one hoping that the Labour leadership’s anger might also extend to the continued destruction of Gaza and the killing of Palestinian civilians.”
In a contrast to Badenoch’s position, Conservative Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Richard Fuller, struck a markedly different tone. He stated that any MP on an official trip should be welcomed by any country, emphasizing the importance of MPs being better informed about global situations.
The situation also drew attention to the increasingly authoritarian tone of some countries. Fuller warned that “Democracy isn’t a guarantee. Freedom isn’t guaranteed.”
Badenoch later escalated the row by responding to Lammy on X on April 7, defending Israel as “our ally and a democracy.” She criticized Labour MPs for promoting “Hamas propaganda” and suggested that their priorities were misplaced. The criticism extended to members within the Tory Party as well. Richard Fuller’s comments indicated a divide within the party over how to handle the diplomatic fallout. Meanwhile, attention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has largely focused on the ongoing violence in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, but the situation in the West Bank has also grown increasingly volatile. Israeli airstrikes and operations in the region have resulted in the deaths of 261 Palestinians and the displacement of 40,000 since the escalation began, according to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem.
Photo: Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch (left) faced cross-party criticism for defending Israel’s expulsion of Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang. (Credit: Roger Harris/UK Parliament)
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