(Image: Mahmoud Illean)
An SNP MP has said she was denied entry to the West Bank and held for eight hours before being turned away while attempting to join an international delegation.
Lara Bird, the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said she was prevented from crossing the border alongside parliamentarians from across Europe travelling as part of a Progressive International delegation.
It's understood that Kate Nevens, a Green MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, was also detained alongside Labour MP Clive Lewis, former Labour MP Sam Tarry, Josu Estarrona Elizondo, a representative of the Basque EH Bildu party in the Spanish Senate, and Nick Dearden, the director of campaign group Global Justice Now.
In a social media statement, Bird said the group was held, interrogated, and ultimately refused entry.
Read More:
- 'A day of reckoning': Israel’s coming election is like no other in its history
- Stakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'
- How a Scottish pilgrim trail ended up an international sensation
- Marra hands finance brief to leadership rival Fagan in first shadow cabinet
She wrote: "Today I was denied entry into the West Bank, alongside other parliamentary colleagues from across Europe as part of a Progressive International delegation.
"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."
Lara Bird, the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said she was prevented from crossing the border (Image: Robert Perry/PA)
The SNP politician said she had travelled to witness conditions faced by Palestinians in the West Bank and accused Israeli authorities of preventing the delegation from carrying out that work.
She 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."
Bird also pledged to continue campaigning against the policies of the Israeli government.
She said: "I will continue to do everything I can to apply pressure on the Netanyahu government, and those responsible for the persecution and genocide of the Palestinian people."
Today I was denied entry into the West Bank, alongside other parliamentary colleagues from across Europe as part of a @ProgIntl delegation. 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. 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. I will continue to do everything I can to apply pressure on the Netanyahu government, and those responsible for the persecution and genocide of the Palestinian people.
The incident comes amid continuing international scrutiny of the situation in the West Bank and Gaza, with growing concern among politicians and humanitarian organisations over violence, displacement and restrictions on movement for Palestinians.
Israel is facing a charge at the International Court of Justice alleging it has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
A ruling is not expected until at least 2029 but its actions have been described as such by a UN Commission of Inquiry, the** International Association of Genocide Scholars**, human rights groups including ones in Israel, and more.