Two Labour MPs ‘denied entry’ to Israel during West Bank visit
Peter Prinsley and Simon Opher said they were travelling as part of a visit organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding to observe medical and humanitarian work
Two Labour MPs travelling to the West Bank as part of a UK parliamentary delegation said they were denied entry to Israel.
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Peter Prinsley and Simon Opher said they were travelling as part of a visit organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding to observe medical and humanitarian work carried out by various organisations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians.
“It is deeply regrettable that Israeli authorities prevented them from seeing first-hand the grave challenges facing medical facilities in the region and from hearing the British government’s assessment of the situation on the ground,” a joint statement given on their behalf read.
The pair were travelling as part of a delegation which was also due to meet British diplomats in Jerusalem, as well as Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations.
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A joint statement from Dr Peter Prinsley MP and Dr Simon Opher MP: pic.twitter.com/y0Q7xYQf2F
— Dr Peter Prinsley MP (@PeterPrinsley) September 16, 2025
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said the decision to deny entry to the two MPs was “unacceptable”.
In a statement on X, he said: “I have remained in contact with both colleagues throughout and I have been clear with the Israeli authorities that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians.”
The Israeli Embassy in London have been contacted for comment.
Both MPs have extensive backgrounds in healthcare.
Unacceptable that two more British MPs have been denied entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Israel.
— Hamish Falconer MP (@HFalconerMP) September 16, 2025
I have remained in contact with both colleagues throughout and I have been clear with the Israeli authorities that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians.
Stroud MP Dr Opher chairs an all-party parliamentary group on health and worked as a GP, while Dr Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, worked as an NHS surgeon.
Dr Opher told LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: "We got to the border and basically it all got sort of heavy and they stopped us going through.
"There was clearly discussions at quite high level. And then after about three hours, we were issued with a document saying we were going to be removed from Israel.
"We were taken to a bus and then put on the bus back to Jordan. And then we got our passports back. So basically we were refused entry.
"Nothing particularly unpleasant happened."
"We were two over 60-year-old doctors as well as MPs, but not exactly a threat. Although reason for denial was on the grounds of public security and public order, which is a bit ridiculous, really," he added.
In April, two Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed said they were denied entry to Israel, with then Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemning the move as “deeply concerning” and “unacceptable”.
“It is unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities,” Mr Lammy said at the time.
“I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support."
