A Jewish student has described how he was pulled aside by Border Force and anti-terror police after he landed in the UK and told them he had been on holiday to Israel.

Former Israeli Defence Force vet Neriya Ashwal, 28, was held for more than an hour by officials after flying into East Midlands airport from Barcelona where he is currently studying, for a short break.

It is the second time in a month that Israelis have been held by border officials and questioned by police after landing in Britain. In March two survivors from the Nova Music Festival were allegedly detained at Manchester airport for two hours.  

Former Israeli Defence Force vet Neriya Ashwal (pictured) was pulled aside after he was asked if he had visited Israel recently and when he said he had been to see friends and family last month he was pulled aside for questioning

Neriya was pulled aside after he was asked if he had visited Israel recently and when he said he had been to see friends and family last month he was pulled aside for questioning.

Posting on Facebook business studies student Neriya said:' Are you Israelis planning to fly to Britain? Think twice, especially if you are a veteran. You may be delayed in the field.

'So I had a weekend free from studying in Barcelona and Ryanair offered especially cheap flight tickets to the UK.

'Landed at 7am at a sleepy little airport outside Nottingham. Short bus from the plane to the terminal and passport inspection queue. Calm, in the process.

'When my turn comes, a nice policeman asks me the usual questions: where did you come from, why did you come, how long will you stay, etc.

'And then he looks again at the (Israeli) passport and asks: have you been to Israel lately?

Yes. Visiting family and friends 3 weeks ago.

'Hold on a min.' Calling someone, saying that he has an Israeli who has been to Israel recently.

'He nods at the phone, hangs up and asks me to sit and wait on the side. He has the passport.

'Waiting for about 15 minutes. three policemen in uniform arrive, talking to each other, looking in my direction. Still nothing.

'After another 5 minutes, two people arrive on civilians. They are accompanying me to the interrogation room.

'The senior among them tells me - we are from the unit for the fight against terrorism. You have nothing to worry about, you are not delayed and you did nothing.

'We just want to have a short conversation. You may go if you choose, but if you choose to go, we will delay you.

'Starting to ask the usual questions: Who am I, where am I from, why did I come, where do I plan to sleep, what exactly do I plan to do.

And then they ask: 'Were you in the army?' Were you a fighter? 'Answers them that I have juvenile diabetes and that I wasn't a fighter but in Intelligence.

'They continue: 'Were you in the field? 'Answer no. And I already understand what they are trying to hear and what not.

'They continue: 'When you were in Israel did you have any role in the army? 'Nope.'

'They're asking for proof of all my weekend plans. return flight ticket, accommodation, bus to London.

'They are trying to be nice and when the eldest leaves the room, the youngest says to me: 'We have no problem with you but because you are from this area we just want to make sure.. There are just others who come here with other intentions, you know. '

'The truth is I want to say that I actually don't know but the last thing I need now is a debate as an investigator with an investigator.

The senior comes back to the room and says that I may go, but they want to check my bag first. Another cop arrives - turns my case completely from end to end. Can't find anything.'

Speaking to Israeli media outlet Walla! Neriya said:'If there is an order or policy by border control to detain and question any Israeli who leaves the military or any Israeli who has recently visited Israel, this is a disturbing phenomenon that should be recognised and addressed.'

'I wasn't afraid but yes I was surprised. I didn't expect the fact that being Israeli and visiting Israel a few weeks ago would raise a red flag that requires questioning.

'I warn others that this is an unpleasant experience and especially because in my estimation, if I had been a fighter who served in Gaza, I suppose the questions would have taken a completely different direction.'

Last month, footage posted on X showed a pair of October 7 survivors being spoken to aggressively by a male Border Force officer. In the video the Border Force officer says: 'Knock the attitude off. We've made the decision that you're coming in, so just let us do the checks we need to do, and keep quiet.

'Look at me. Are you clear with that? Good. We're the bosses not you.'

The men - said to be brothers - claimed they were detained for two hours, before the same Border Police officer allegedly said 'they had to make sure you are not going to do what you are doing in Gaza over here'. 

Following the incident Home Secretary James Cleverley announced on X that the incident is being handled, adding: 'We do not tolerate antisemitism or any form of discrimination.'  

When asked the Home Office told MailOnline:'Our Border Force officers will always act with professionalism and do not discriminate against any passenger based on the country they are from or their race.

'Our priority is to deliver a safe and secure border and Border Force will carry out checks that are deemed necessary in order to achieve this.'