Labour and SNP MPs ‘detained for eight hours’ after being denied access to West Bank

Mr Lewis was accompanied by Scottish National Party MP Lara Bird and ex-Labour MP Sam Tarry.

In a social media post, Mr Lewis said: “For more than eight hours, we were held, interrogated and made to feel as though we had done something wrong simply by attempting to enter.

“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.

“We want to ensure that people back home do not look away from the reality of what is happening.

“Ultimately, we went to show solidarity. But we left with an even greater determination to speak out.

“We will not be silenced, and we will not look away. None of us should.”

Ms Bird added: “I came to stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land. Instead, we were turned away, with no reason given.

“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.”

The delegation was stopped while making the crossing from Jordan last night.

In a separate incident last year, Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were denied entrance to Israel.

Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer said at the time that he believed it was the first time a British MP had been barred from entering Israel.

However, a diplomatic row between the UK and Israel has resulted in authorities banning more than a dozen public figures.

Zack Polanski was barred after Green Party members voted to declare “Zionism is racism”.

Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was banned ahead of the by-election after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced sanctions on West Bank settlements.

However, Israel confirmed its intention to close West Bank crossings ahead of polls opening today.

Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major operation on Friday in response to the killing of two Israeli soldiers by two Palestinian gunmen in an attack on a checkpoint

Three other Israeli soldiers were injured and the gunmen were also killed.

In a subsequent military operation, around 2,000 West Bank residents have been displaced.

It is common for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis in the West Bank.

GB News has approached the Foreign Office for comment.