“We’re astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities to refuse British MPs entry on our trip to visit the occupied West Bank,” Mohamed and Yang said in a joint statement on Sunday.

“We had come on an MPs’ delegation to visit humanitarian aid projects and communities in the West Bank, with UK charity partners who have over a decade of experience in taking parliamentary delegations,” they said.

Earlier, UK foreign secretary David Lammy said it was “unacceptable” that Israel had detained the pair and denied them entry.

UK foreign secretary David Lammy said it was “unacceptable” that Mohamed and Yang had been denied entry and detained by Israel. Source: Getty / Dan Kitwood

“It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities,” Lammy said in a statement.

“The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.”