Israel will never stop me speaking up for Palestine
Israel’s decision to bar British MPs exposes how far it will go to avoid scrutiny over its treatment of Palestinians.
Over my lifetime, it’s been my privilege to visit Palestine on several different occasions. I’ve witnessed what Palestinians endure on a daily basis. Endless checkpoints. Manned watchtowers. Arbitrary arrests. Violent settlers. This is the daily reality of apartheid, which dictates who can and cannot move freely. This is how Israel’s occupation operates, denying any vestige of autonomy to the occupied. This is the daily rhythm of Palestinian life.
In Gaza, the Israeli occupation controls most of what goes in and out. Its illegal blockade has resulted in the mass starvation and displacement of Palestinians. As more and more people have woken up to the genocide in Gaza, Israel has also denied entry to UN investigators and international journalists – a transparent attempt to stop the world from finding out the full extent of the war crimes it has committed. Do not forget the thousands of Palestinian refugees, as well, who are still denied the right to return.
This is the real scandal. The Israeli government’s decision to ban me – and 10 other British MPs – from entry offered but a tiny glimpse into the authoritarianism that Palestinians are subject to every single day.
Israel made the decision to ban us in response to the government’s welcome decision to impose sanctions on illegal settlement goods. International law is clear. In July 2024, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories was unlawful and imposed obligations on the UK not to aid or assist the illegal obligation. This ban on settlement goods is long overdue. It reflects growing opposition to state-backed settler violence against Palestinians in the West. The hysteria from those who oppose it proves just how much impunity Israel has enjoyed so far.