Written question asked by Zarah Sultana (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 21 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2025 (named day). It was answered by Seema Malhotra (Labour) on Monday, 8 September 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Diplomatic Immunity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many foreign officials have been granted special mission immunity to visit the UK since March 2024; and what the (a) names and (b) country of origin are of those officials.

Answer

The purpose of special missions is a 'temporary mission, representing a state, which is sent by one state to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official engagements on behalf of the sending state'. All visitors granted a special mission status would have had bilateral engagements with UK ministers and officials during their visit, pertinent to the individual bilateral relationship.

Since 1 March 2024, special mission status has been granted to four delegations:

Benny Gantz, Chairman of The National Unity Party & War Cabinet Minister of the State of Israel and two delegates, March 2024;

Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and four delegates, November 2024;

Major General Oded Bassiuk, Head of the Operations Directorate J3 of the Israel Defense Forces and five delegates, January 2025;

Major General Tomer Bar, Head of the Israeli Air Force, July 2025.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 69421
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Diplomatic Immunity
Thursday, 16 October 2025
Written questions
House of Commons; Official Visits
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Diplomatic immunity
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Diplomatic Immunity

Secondary information

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