'Detained and interrogated': Israel blocks British MPs from entering occupied West Bank to meet Palestinians

Israeli authorities have prevented a delegation of British MPs and MPs from the US, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Ireland from entering the occupied West Bank to meet with Palestinian farmers and civil society leaders. The group was detained at the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan for nine hours, according to UK newspaper The Guardian.

British Labour MP Clive Lewis described the experience as deeply unpleasant, stating that they were asked why they were entering the West Bank and why their stories were one-sided. Scottish National Party MP Lara Bird said they were held for eight hours and ultimately prevented from crossing the border. The delegation was reportedly planning to attend Progressive International's Second Ramallah Congress, which opposes Israel's illegal occupation.

Israeli army soldiers closed vehicle barriers at the Deir Sharaf checkpoint, west of Nablus, on 25 October 2026. Israel has banned 11 British MPs from entering the country in retaliation for UK sanctions on illegal settlements, but those who tried to enter the West Bank on Monday were not included. The situation in the West Bank has been escalating with violence from the Israeli military, home raids, arrests, demolitions, and forced displacement of thousands of people.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep alarm over Israeli settler expansion and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning of a risk of ethnic cleansing.