ICJP Delegation of British MPs visit West Bank a week after two MPs were deported by Israel

18th April 2025- Earlier today, Shockat Adam MP and Andrew George MP returned from a trip to the West Bank organised by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). The trip took place only a week after two British MPs, Abtisam Mohamad MP and Yuan Yang MP were deported by Israel on a separate delegation to visit the West Bank. The MPs will provide full details of their visit on Wednesday morning in Westminster.

Andrew George, of the Liberal Democrats, and Shockat Adam of the Independent Alliance, arrived on Sunday 13th April 2025. George was questioned and taken aside and prevented from entering Israel for 45 minutes, before eventually being permitted entry, following communications with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and the British Consulate in Jerusalem. 

The delegation visited refugees who had been exiled from Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem during Israel’s recent military offensive in the north of the West Bank. The MPs also visited Palestinians in Hebron and villages in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank, where they experienced numerous episodes of harassment from settlers and Israeli security forces, often working in collaboration with one another. This included one incident of being confronted by security forces and armed settlers whilst witnessing how Bedouin farmer’s access to their land had been disrupted in a village in Masafer Yatta, and another incident of security forces in Hebron raising their assault rifles as the delegation vehicle attempted to pass a checkpoint in Hebron.

They also observed settler activity whilst visiting Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem, where armed Israeli security forces escorted settlers around the Al Aqsa compound. The following day, Israeli Knesset members and thousands of settlers did the same. 

The delegation also met community figures and political figures in Ramallah and Tel Aviv, including members of the Knesset. They also visited Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, to speak to Palestinian citizens of Israel living there, to hear of their experiences, especially regarding their rights and freedoms as a minority community inside Israel.

In Bethlehem, they visited Aida refugee camp, and visited the security infrastructure surrounding the town, including the Annexation Wall, checkpoints and surveillance towers.

The two MPs will speak at a press conference hosted by ICJP in Westminster on Wednesday morning to provide further details about their learnings from the trip, and the steps that the UK government should take in order to protect and support the peace, dignity and rights of all peoples across Israel and Palestine.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For press inquiries, including details of the upcoming press conference on Wednesday, 23rd April, please contact press@icjpalestine.com.