British lawmakers denied entry to Israel and deported

LONDON — Two lawmakers from the United Kingdom’s ruling Labour party have been denied entry to Israel and deported.

LONDON — Two lawmakers from the United Kingdom’s ruling Labour party have been denied entry to Israel and deported.

Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were rejected because they were suspected of plans to "document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred," according to a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry cited by Sky News, NBC’s international broadcasting partner. 

The pair had flown into Israel’s Ben Gurion airport from London’s Luton Airport on Saturday.

According to Sky News, the statement said the lawmakers said they were visiting Israel "as part of an official parliamentary delegation," which the Israeli ministry countered as "false."

Labour members of Parliament Abtisam Mohamed, left, and Yuan Yang.House of CommonsMohamed and Yang released a joint statement Sunday saying they were “astounded” to be denied entry into Israel.