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

The international delegation had planned to attend a conference in Ramallah and meet Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest Israeli army soldiers close the vehicle barrier at the Deir Sharaf checkpoint, west of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on 25 October 2026 (AFP) Published date: 27 October 2026 13:12 GMT | Last update: 6 sec ago Israel has stopped an international delegation from entering the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian farmers and civil society leaders facing violence from the Israeli military. The group, which included British politicians, members from the US, France, Spain, Switzerland and Ireland, was reportedly detained at the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan by Israeli soldiers for nine hours. The representatives had planned to participate in Progressive International’s Second Ramallah Congress, a conference that opposes Israel's illegal occupation and is attended by Palestinian academics, students and civil society groups. The 23-member delegation included Labour MP Clive Lewis, Scottish National Party MP Lara Bird and Scottish Green Party MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) Kate Nevens and former Labour MP Sam Tarry. Labour MP Lewis told the Guardian: "We were detained, taken aside and then interrogated. I use the word interrogated because people were shouted at. "We were asked why we were going in, what was happening, why our stories were one way or the other. The bottom line was it was a deeply unpleasant experience." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The SNP's Lara Bird wrote on X: "We were held for 8 hours, interrogated and ultimately prevented from crossing the border. "I came to stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land. Instead, we were turned away, with no reason given." Bird added: "More than ever, Palestinians are being subject to terror and violence by the IDF and illegal settlers. Increased blockades, demolitions and unthinkable violence have become the norm for Palestinians in the West Bank. "It is more important now than ever that we bear witness and show our solidarity. But we were prevented from doing so." Israel banned 11 British MPs from entering the country last month in retaliation for the UK sanctioning illegal settlements, but those did not include the MPs who tried to enter the West Bank on Monday. The British government has not commented on the events. 'Spectre of ethnic cleansing' Layla Hazaineh, a political coordinator for Progressive International, said: “Despite escalating violence, our delegation remained determined to cross to Palestine to participate in the olive harvest, and actively engage with Palestinian communities and institutions. Every refusal of entry will only strengthen this determination.” The Israeli army said it would block all land crossings into and out of the occupied West Bank on Tuesday for the Israeli general election. ‘We left with heavy hearts’: Israel’s assault displaces thousands in Hebron Read More » The military said it would also bar Palestinian workers from entering most areas of the West Bank from Sunday through Monday. This comes after Israeli forces imposed a lockdown in Hebron and launched a wide-ranging military assault involving home raids, arrests, demolitions and the forced displacement of thousands of people. Yousef al-Jabari, the city’s mayor, said 488 families had been forced to evacuate, affecting more than 3,100 people. They include over a thousand children, dozens of elderly people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses, according to the city’s Support and Relief Committee, established to manage the crisis. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he was "deeply alarmed" over Israeli settler expansion and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. He warned of a risk of ethnic cleansing, saying: "We are seeing an increasingly coercive environment with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger." Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.