Sir Edward Leigh and Uma Kumaran were among those to recount their experiences.
MPs have recounted witnessing acts of armed “intimidation” by Israeli settlers during their visits to the West Bank, raising concerns over escalating tensions and the impact on Palestinian communities.
Father of the House, Sir Edward Leigh, described encountering two young settlers carrying submachine guns in an apparent act of intimidation. Meanwhile, Labour MP Uma Kumaran revealed that she had “guns pointed” in her face while visiting the West Bank with the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The disturbing accounts come as tensions in the region escalate, with Israeli tanks recently entering the occupied West Bank for the first time since 2002. The move follows increasing settler violence against Palestinians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously stated that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to intensify operations aimed at “thwarting terrorism” in all refugee camps in the West Bank.
“Holding down five million palestinians”
Speaking in Westminster Hall, Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh urged MPs to consider the long-term consequences of the occupation.
“The purpose of this debate, if we have any moral authority at all, is to convince our moderate Israeli friends that it is simply not in the long-term interests of Israel to hold down in occupation some five million Palestinians—two million in Gaza and three million in the West Bank,” he said.
He acknowledged that many Israeli citizens oppose the continued occupation but warned of the growing influence of extremist settler groups.
“There are some extremist settlers who have a completely wrong idea that somehow they can expel people who have lived for centuries in the West Bank from their ancestral homelands,” he added.
Destruction of palestinian land and homes
During the visit, MPs witnessed first-hand the destruction caused by settlers in Palestinian villages.
Sir Edward recounted:
“The moment we turned up, two young settlers—I can only describe them as punks—arrived with submachine guns, in a clear act of intimidation.”
He further highlighted the widespread destruction of Palestinian-owned olive groves, stating:
“Hundreds of Palestinian-owned olive trees have been torched, sawed down, or destroyed.”
He also noted that, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, some settlers had been drafted into the Israeli army, leading to instances of violence committed while in IDF uniform.
Life under Israeli occupation
During their visit to Hebron, MPs were confronted with the stark reality of life under occupation.
Sir Edward described the main road of the city as “completely deserted”, explaining:
“A small settler movement has moved into Hebron, and 800 Israeli soldiers are protecting them, while Palestinians are prevented from even walking down the main road in their own town.”
In Ramallah, MPs met a Palestinian grandmother who described the difficulties of simply visiting her grandson.
“It’s a very quick drive to Nablus from Ramallah, but due to so many checkpoints, it takes seven or eight hours,” he explained.
He criticised Israel’s discriminatory planning policies, pointing out that:
“Virtually every application to build or expand a settlement is granted, while over 90% of Palestinian applications are rejected.”
He concluded:
“This is totally one-sided, it is intolerable, and we should speak out about it in this Parliament.”
Labour MP witnesses “terrifying” conditions
Labour MP Uma Kumaran, who represents Stratford and Bow, shared her experiences from a separate trip with the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
She described the severe restrictions imposed on Palestinian communities in Area C, a region of the West Bank under full Israeli control.
“Their access to electricity is limited, their access to water is hampered. There is a stream within touching distance, but they are unable to use it,” she explained.
She described seeing a sign above the stream bearing a Star of David, explicitly warning Palestinians against touching the water.
Reflecting on the dangers she faced, she said:
“It is terrifying and shocking. I was there with full diplomatic protection, in a reinforced 4×4, and yet we still had guns pointed in our faces.
“Our drivers refused to take us any further into Area C for fear of what might happen.”
“A future palestinian state is being slowly suffocated”
Labour MP for Rochdale Paul Waugh, who attended the trip with Sir Edward Leigh, issued a stark warning.
“While the tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza rightly deserve our attention, what became clear on our trip to the West Bank is that a future Palestinian state is being slowly suffocated by Israeli settlements,” he said.
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He accused extremist settlers, backed by Israeli police and the military, of systematically undermining Palestinian sovereignty.
Escalating violence “did not start on October 7”
Liberal Democrat MP Pippa Heylings (South Cambridgeshire) also attended the trip and insisted that the recent surge in violence is part of a long-term pattern.
“West Bank violence by Israel is not new; it did not start on October 7. It has been ongoing and escalating even after previous ceasefire agreements,” she said.
She described the harrowing conditions Palestinians face daily.
“During our visit, we witnessed the impacts of daily violence by extremist settlers in the occupied territories and the policies that continue to erode the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.”
Call for a two-state solution
Foreign Office Minister Catherine West reiterated the UK Government’s support for a political resolution.
“What’s needed now is a political process and a political horizon towards a two-state solution,” she said.
She praised the Foreign Affairs Select Committee for its visit, emphasising that such missions help deepen understanding of the crisis.
With settler violence escalating and the Israeli military intensifying its operations, the international community faces mounting pressure to take decisive action to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the West Bank.
