Israeli authorities in September barred UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly from visiting a West Bank village whose entire Palestinian population had been expelled by Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Eye (MEE).

Cleverly intended to visit the town of Ein Samia while on a three-day trip to the occupied Palestinian territories in September, with Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin also prevented from entering the village in Area C of the West Bank.

"The decision was made in consultation with security figures, and it was decided not to permit them to arrive at these points,” an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman told MEE.  

The natives of Ein Samia, a community of about 200, were forced to leave the town after Israeli settlers made their lives unbearable.  

Between violence at the hands of the Israeli army, settler violence, and restrictions on building homes and infrastructure, Israel left the residences of Ein Samia with no choice but to leave. 

Cleverly made no mention of his travel restrictions during his three-day trip despite funding sent from the UK to the West Bank. These funds include an elementary school in Ein Samia that was demolished in mid-August after 170 residents fled following heightened settler attacks.  

"Cleverly should have spoken out,”  director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, Chris Doyle, said. “To remain silent in the face of such injustice is inexcusable. It has happened all too often." 

B’Tselem’s international advocacy lead, Sarit Michaeli, called the security concerns mentioned by Israel a farce.  

“We got there easily; it's not a problem," Michaeli said. "There's plenty of options to guarantee to safeguard the ability of internationals to visit these places.”  

Area C covers over 60 percent of the West Bank and is home to about 300,000 Palestinians who live in 532 residential areas.