SNP MP Lara Bird and Green MSP Kate Nevens detained by Israel for eight hours

An SNP MP, a Scottish Greens MSP and a Labour MP say they were detained by Israeli authorities for eight hours and turned away while trying to enter the West Bank.

Lara Bird, the SNP MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens and Labour MP Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, were part of a 23-strong delegation organised by Progressive International. Former Labour MP Sam Tarry and a former member of the Basque senate were also in the group.

Turned back at the border

Ms Bird said on Instagram that the group was questioned and prevented from crossing the King Hussein Bridge between Jordan and the West Bank. She said they had intended to stand alongside Palestinians who have been attacked while harvesting olives on their own land.

Mr Lewis said the group knew they risked being detained, questioned and turned away, and that was exactly what happened. He said they had done nothing wrong and had gone to show support for the Palestinian people.

Ms Nevens described the experience as frightening but said the group was able to leave safely. She said it was only a small fraction of the reality Palestinians face when trying to cross the same border.

Election-day closures

The Israeli military announced on Monday that all West Bank land crossings would close as part of extra security measures during Tuesday's national election, the first since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

In recent days, about 2,000 Palestinian residents have been displaced in Hebron after the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen, and several attacks on Palestinians during the annual olive harvest have been reported.

A spokesperson for the SNP said the party was proud to stand with the Palestinian people. The Israeli embassy and the Foreign Office have been asked for comment.