Lara Bird MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and her delegation were detained by Israel and refused entry to Palestine.
The MP for Broughty Ferry and Arbroath, a five-minute journey from Dundee, has confirmed that she and the Progressive International colleagues were detained for 8 hours and interrogated by Israeli forces while attempting to enter Palestine as part of a Progressive International delegation.
As reported in The National, the group, which also contained Scottish Greens MSP for Edinburgh and Lothian East Kate Nevens and Labour MP Clive Lewis, were attempting to cross the border into the West Bank via Jordan when they were intercepted by Israeli authorities.
The group were hoping to attend Progressive International’s second Ramallah Congress and were due to meet Palestinian students and leaders.
Given their status as Members of Parliament, Lewis and Bird could have requested special permission to enter Palestine from the Israeli Foreign Minister, according to The National.
Taking to Instagram, Ms Bird wrote:
“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.”
Mr Lewis posted on Instagram, stating that”
“We knew that by crossing into the occupied Palestinian territories, we risked being detained, interrogated and turned away by Israeli authorities. And that, alas, is exactly what happened.
“For more than eight hours, we were held, interrogated and made to feel as though we had done something wrong simply by attempting to enter. The simple truth is we had done nothing wrong.”
The United Nations has recognised that Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and Amnesty International have accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Israel rejects both claims.
First Minister John Swinney, the leader of Ms Bird’s party, the SNP, stated that: “We must confront this crisis with urgency, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to accountability.
“I know that colleagues across this Parliament share my horror at what is unfolding in Gaza.”
Dundee was one of the first cities twinned with Palestine in 1980. Signs can be seen entering the city centre across from the Discovery Point stating that Dundee is twinned with Nablus, Palestine.