Israel Bars International Delegation from Entering West Bank

Israeli forces barred an international delegation of 23 people from entering the West Bank via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge in Jordan on Monday evening. The group, organized by Progressive International, included British politicians such as Labour MP Clive Lewis and SNP MP Lara Bird. The delegates were traveling to attend the Second Ramallah Congress and meet with Palestinian farmers, students, and academics during the olive harvest.

Members of the delegation reported being detained and interrogated for eight to nine hours before being refused entry. Clive Lewis described the ordeal as a deeply unpleasant experience, noting that participants were shouted at and questioned about their motives. Lara Bird questioned why Israel is determined to stop witnesses from seeing the occupied West Bank.

The incident follows reports that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed officials to pursue exclusion orders against activists visiting olive-harvesting areas. This policy comes amid a surge in violence, with the UN aid coordination office recording at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in early October. Laila Hazaineh, a political coordinator for Progressive International, stated that these refusals would only strengthen the organization's determination to engage with Palestinian communities.