Two Labour MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, faced a surprising turn of events when they were denied entry to Israel and subsequently deported, setting off a political storm as the news broke on Saturday, April 25. The Israeli immigration ministry cited the MPs’ alleged plans to "document the activities of the security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred" as the reason behind the move, prompting a sharp rebuke from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who labeled it as "disgraceful."
Who Are Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed?
Yuan Yang: Born in China, moved to the UK at the age of four, and is the House of Commons’ first China-born MP. She won her seat in the 2024 election with a significant majority despite only being in the Commons since July 2023. Prior to her political career, Yang, 35, worked as a journalist for the Financial Times and appeared on BBC News. She has also been active in promoting alternative schools of thought in economics through her role in founding Rethinking Economics.
Abtisam Mohamed: Another new entrant to Parliament, winning her Sheffield Central seat last year. She is the first Yemeni woman to be elected as a British MP. Born in Yemen and moving to the UK at the age of two, Mohamed has a background in community work and law. She became a local councillor in 2016 before her parliamentary win.
Their Stance on Israel-Gaza:
- Both MPs have voiced their concerns regarding the conflict in Gaza, with Yang focusing on the safety of journalists and Mohamed condemning what she describes as "war crimes" and "forcible displacement." Yang, drawing from her journalistic background, has also highlighted the significant barriers placed on journalists seeking to document the situation in the region.
- The Israeli government has been at odds with these narratives, denying accusations of targeted attacks on journalists and insisting on the necessity of their operations against Hamas. Both Yang and Mohamed stress the importance of media freedom and call for increased scrutiny and condemnation of Israeli actions by the international community.
Their deportation has raised significant questions about freedom of speech, the role of journalists in conflict zones, and the UK’s diplomatic relations with Israel.
