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Three politicians from the UK have reported being held by Israeli officials for eight hours as they attempted to gain entry into the West Bank. The group included Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Lara Bird, Labour MP Clive Lewis, and Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens. They were stopped at the border, subjected to questioning, and subsequently denied entry.
Lara Bird shared on social media that their visit aimed to support Palestinians who were facing attacks while harvesting olives on their own land. The delegation was part of a broader Progressive International group, which also featured former Labour MP Sam Tarry and an ex-member of the Basque senate. The Israeli military had announced the closure of all West Bank land crossings ahead of Tuesday’s national elections as a security precaution.
Clive Lewis, representing Norwich South, expressed on X that the group was made to feel as though they had committed wrongdoing. He acknowledged the risks involved in attempting to enter the occupied Palestinian territories but emphasized that their purpose was peaceful. “The simple truth is we had done nothing wrong. We went to show our support for the Palestinian people and highlight the terrible injustice and violence being perpetrated against them,” Lewis stated. Kate Nevens described the detention as “frightening” but noted that the group was ultimately allowed to leave safely. She highlighted that their experience was a minor glimpse of what Palestinians endure when crossing the border to visit family or carry out daily activities.
Recent unrest in the region has seen around 2,000 Palestinians displaced from Hebron in the southern West Bank, where footage circulating online showed a street being completely demolished by bulldozers. This action was reportedly in response to the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen. Additional incidents targeting Palestinians during the olive harvest season have been recorded leading up to the elections, which are the first since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The SNP expressed pride in standing with the Palestinian people. Requests for comment have been directed to the Israeli embassy and the UK Foreign Office
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