British MPs barred from entering West Bank as part of international delegation

Israeli authorities stopped and detained a 23-person international Progressive International delegation, including British MPs Clive Lewis and Lara Bird, at the King Hussein Bridge for up to nine hours on October 26, 2026, before denying them entry into the West Bank. Delegates intended to support Palestinian olive farmers and attend a congress at Birzeit University. Israeli embassy officials claimed the delegates failed to cooperate, while delegates accused Israeli authorities of politically motivated intimidation ahead of national elections.

Delegation composition and entry refusal

• ▪A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in the UK claimed the delegation was turned away because members failed to cooperate with border officials and provided false information about their visit.
• ▪Spanish Senator Josu Estarrona Elizondo was among the members of the Progressive International delegation barred from entering the West Bank on October 26, 2026.
• ▪The international delegation attempting to cross from Jordan into Palestinian territory included representatives from France, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Greece, Holland, Ireland, the US, and the UK.
• ▪Israeli authorities barred a Progressive International delegation, including British MPs Clive Lewis and Lara Bird, from crossing into the West Bank

Detention and interrogation at the border

• ▪Israeli border authorities held delegates from Progressive International for eight to nine hours, seizing their passports and subjecting them to individual interviews at the border crossing.
• ▪Delegates including Labour MP Clive Lewis and SNP MP Lara Bird stated that Israeli officials shouted during individual interrogations and accused Bird of hating Israel before turning the group back to Jordan.

UK government reaction to barred MPs

• ▪Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated in the House of Commons that UK government officials had contacted the barred politicians to offer assistance.
• ▪Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that the UK government was deeply concerned about British politicians being denied entry into the West Bank and raised the issue with Israeli authorities.

Context of upcoming Israeli elections

• ▪The Israeli military announced the closure of all West Bank land crossings on October 26, 2026, as part of security measures ahead of national elections on October 27, 2026.
• ▪Former Labour MP Sam Tarry stated that Israeli authorities barred the Progressive International delegation to prevent international representatives from witnessing West Bank conditions ahead of the Israeli national election.

Actions during West Bank olive harvest

• ▪The UN aid coordination office recorded at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in the first two weeks of October 2026.
• ▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed officials earlier in October 2026 to pursue exclusion orders against international activists traveling to West Bank olive-harvesting areas.
• ▪Israeli forces attacked European diplomats and a French mayor who were accompanying Palestinian farmers during the West Bank olive harvest.
• ▪Israeli authorities detained approximately 80 olive-harvest volunteers in the West Bank, including United States congressional candidate Brad Lander.