British politicians held for eight hours and barred from West Bank, delegation says

A delegation of British and European politicians says it was held for eight hours, interrogated and denied entry to the West Bank after trying to cross from Jordan on Monday 26 October.

The group, travelling as part of a Progressive International delegation, tried to enter via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing. Its members included Labour MP Clive Lewis, SNP MP Lara Bird, Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens, former Labour MP Sam Tarry and Josu Estarrona Elizondo, a Basque senator for EH Bildu.

The delegation had been due to take part in Progressive International’s Second Ramallah Congress, meet students and civil society leaders at Birzeit University, and accompany Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest, including at a farm near Salfit on 31 October.

Bird, the SNP MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said: “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.”

She 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.”

Lewis said the group was “held, interrogated and made to feel as though we had done something wrong simply by attempting to enter”. The delegation said no reason was given for the refusal.

Sources:

• The Scottish Sun: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/16991471/snp-greens-politicians-detained-israel-west-bank/
• Global Justice Now: https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/israel-bars-european-legislators-and-international-delegation-from-west-bank-as-attacks-on-palestinian-olive-harvest-escalate/
• Clive Lewis MP: https://www.clivelewis.org/uncategorised/news-and-updates/2026/10/26/israeli-authorities-deny-my-entry-into-west-bank/