John McDonnell wrote to Theresa May in 2014 about Britons fighting for Israel

He said: 'Will you be warning any British citizens considering engagement with the IDF that such engagement may put their British citizenship in jeopardy?'

Yet Labour leader says ISIS bride Shamima Begum has 'right to return' to Britain

Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked Begum's UK citizenship earlier this week

John McDonnell argued Britons who fought for Israel against Palestine should face the threat of losing their citizenship in a letter that emerged today - 24 hours after Jeremy Corbyn said jihadi bride Shamima Begum should keep her passport.

The shadow chancellor wrote to then Home Secretary Theresa May in 2014 saying she should censure British citizens who served in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and mete out the same punishment given to those who joined ISIS.

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Yesterday his party leader said Shamima Begum and her newborn baby should be allowed to return from Syria and given the 'support that she needs' by the authorities.

Yet Mr McDonnell argued the Government's policy to strip violent jihadis of their passports should be widened to those who went to fight for the Israeli Defence Force against the Palestinians in Gaza - with some critics calling it 'hypocrisy'.

Writing in July 2014 Mr McDonnell said: 'Will you be warning any British citizens considering engagement with the IDF that such engagement may put their British citizenship in jeopardy?

John McDonnell (pictured on Marr last Sunday) argued in 2014 that Britons who fought for Israel against Palestine should face the threat of losing their citizenship

Jeremy Corbyn

Shamima Begum with her newborn son

The letter obtained by ITV News asks Begum's family to inform her of the decision to revoke her citizenship and her right to appeal it

'Given the seriousness of the current situation in Gaza and the apparent escalation of the Israeli attacks on Palestinians, I urge you to address these questions promptly so that any British citizen currently participating or planning to participate in these attacks is warned of the potential consequences and thus may be deterred from acting in this way'.

The letter, now deleted by Mr McDonnell's team, was uncovered by the Guido Fawkes website who say it was there for three years including two years where he was shadow chancellor.

A Labour Party spokesman said: 'This was at the height of the barbaric bombing and attacks on Gaza when hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children were being killed.

'This is a simple statement of law and standard practice by the government aimed at deterring and pointing out the risks involved in British citizens joining any foreign conflict. For those holding joint citizenship it does not entail making them stateless'.

Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn argued Shamima Begum, who gave birth to a baby boy in a refugee camp on Sunday, had 'a right to return' after fleeing the country to support ISIS in 2015.

He also said the decision by Home Secretary Sajid Javid to strip the 19-year-old, originally from east London, of her citizenship was a 'very extreme manoeuvre'.

While Diane Abbott, the shadow Home Secretary, said the Government 'could not subvert the rule of law' to forbid the 19-year-old from re-entering the country.

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Their comments have met a frosty reception, with Conservative backbencher David TC Davies branding Jeremy Corbyn's view ‘extraordinary’.

The Monmouth MP told MailOnline: 'This woman has shown no remorse whatsoever for her actions.

‘She has heaped praise on the ISIS fighters she ran off with and […] expressed support for the horrendous terrorist atrocity in Manchester.

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‘Her presence in Britain would put wider society at risk and it is extraordinary that she now has the support of the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition, who wants to become prime minister.’

Begum, who fled Bethnal Green for Syria in 2015 along with two friends, said she was 'shocked' when she was told of Mr Javid's decision yesterday.

And told Sky News today that she was 'willing to change' and pleaded with politicians for 'mercy' after her UK citizenship was revoked.

The Labour leader said that the teenager, who gave birth to a baby boy in a refugee camp on Sunday, had 'a right to return' after fleeing the country to support IS

The teenager, who fled London aged 15 to join Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria, has said that she regrets giving interviews about her plans (pictured giving an interview to ITV news)

Jihadi bride Shamima Begum and her friends fled to Syria by flying to Istanbul and getting a bus across Turkey

Meanwhile Mr Corbyn, who is currently in Brussels to meet with EU leaders, revealed he was uncomfortable with the Home Secretary exercising such powers.

The Labour leader's comments came during an interview with ITV, in which he said Begum was entitled to support from the British government.

'She was born in Britain, she has that right to remain in Britain and obviously a lot of questions she has to answer but also some support that she needs,' he told ITV.

'She obviously has, in my view, a right to return to Britain. On that return she must face a lot of questions about everything she's done. And at that point any action may or may not be taken.

'I think the idea of stripping somebody of their citizenship when they were born in Britain is a very extreme manoeuvre.

'Indeed I question the right of the home secretary to have these powers when the original law was brought in by Theresa May when she was home secretary.'

Mr Javid previously stated Begum's son Jerah - apparently named after a 7th century Islamic warlord - could still be British despite his mother losing her citizenship.

However shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the Government 'could not subvert the rule of law' just because it is 'not convenient'.

She told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'You cannot strip people of their British nationality under international law if it will leave them stateless.

'That's the legal position and we are a country of laws.'

Their comments come as Begum pleaded with politicians for 'mercy' and stressed that she is willing to change.

Speaking to Sky News, the 19-year-old said: 'I would like them to re-evaluate my case with a bit more mercy in their heart, you know.'

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Dozens have reacted to Jeremy Corbyn's recent comments on Twitter, many voicing their disapproval with his opinion .

Shamima Begum earlier told Sky News that she is 'willing to change' and pleaded with politicians to treat her case with 'a bit more mercy'. But has since said that the UK government is 'making an example' of her

One user said: 'I wouldn't put it past him to organise a welcome party for her and give her a brand new home at the expense of the taxpayer.'

While another, Paul Johnson, wrote: 'This is exactly why the wheels are falling off the Labour bandwagon.

'We are talking about an intelligent woman who knew exactly what she was doing when she decided to leave the UK and join ISIS.'

Other MPs have also spoken out following Mr Corbyn's comments.

Andrea Jenkyns, Tory MP for Morley and Outwood, said: 'So Corbyn believes ISIS Bride should be let back into the UK and supported.

'Why does he always seem to side with those who are enemies of our great country.'

While Lee McCluskey, siding with Sajid Javid, wrote on Twitter: 'We have a home secretary who talks sense and will do what many Brits want which is for Shamina Begum to be denied entry back into the uk providing its within the law.

'Dianne Abbott and Corbyn would invite all ISIS in for tea and biscuits.'

Jeremy Corbyn's comments have been met with a frosty reception online, with dozens online criticising the Labour leader's view

It comes as peers demanded the 650-year-old Treason Act be updated to prosecute returning jihadists who have 'betrayed' Britain.

Labour former security and counter-terrorism minister Lord West of Spithead said it was 'appropriate that as a nation we show how repugnant this is and how appalling that sort of behaviour is'.

Lord West said that, as a minister, he found it difficult at times to take to court people who should have been prosecuted there.

Peers call for treason law update to tackle returning jihadists Peers have called for the 650-year-old Treason Act to be updated to prosecute returning jihadists who have 'betrayed' Britain. Home Secretary Sajid Javid came under pressure at question time after deciding to revoke Islamic State bride Shamima Begum's British citizenship. Labour former security Lord West of Spithead said it was 'appropriate that as a nation we show how repugnant this is and how appalling that sort of behaviour is'. Lord West said that, as a minister, he found it difficult at times to take to court people who should have been prosecuted there. 'This seems to me a way it can be done,' he added. 'Update the treason law and show these people to be traitors, something that our nation really believes they are.' Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said recent legislation had already given more powers to the courts to prosecute. 'I agree the 1351 Treason Act is rather an old Act. Of course it was relatively recently updated in 1861.' Lady Williams said she was not dismissing the demand. The Home Secretary had said he would look at it and the Home Office kept all laws under review. But she said prosecuting terrorists for treason risked 'giving their actions a political status or glamour they do not deserve, rather than treating them merely as criminals'. Independent crossbencher Lord Alton of Liverpool said no one wanted to 'glamorise' such actions but those who sought to justify the murder of British citizens in the bombing of the Manchester Arena in 2017 or took up arms against British forces and civilians had 'betrayed this country, its people, its values and its laws'. Lord Alton said it was time to provide a 'solid legal basis', rather than the 1351 Act, for prosecuting hundreds of returning jihadists, so those responsible for 'heinous crimes' could not expect to evade prosecution. Lady Williams agreed that such people should not escape justice and insisted new powers given to the police might prevent some of 'the terrible things that we have seen in recent months'. Liberal Democrat Lord Paddick, a former Met Police deputy assistant commissioner, said yesterday the minister had implied that it was difficult to prosecute those involved with IS as the UK effectively had no extradition arrangements with Syria. 'That is why the Government had to deprive people of their British citizenship,' he said. 'Many of these people want to return to the UK but the Government is preventing them from returning to face justice by depriving them of their citizenship.' Lord Paddick asked: 'Is the Government's strategy confused or is it just me?' To laughter, Lady Williams replied: 'I think it might be you. 'It is difficult to prosecute people in Syria. 'We have no consular access in Syria. 'People have been prosecuted when they come back to this country. 'There are a number of different remedies available to the Government to try to bring people to justice.' The Conservative chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat said that the Treason Act of 1351 should be updated to deal with cases like Shamima Begum's, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

'This seems to me a way it can be done,' he added. 'Update the treason law and show these people to be traitors, something that our nation really believes they are.'

Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said recent legislation had already given more powers to the courts to prosecute.

'I agree the 1351 Treason Act is rather an old Act. Of course it was relatively recently updated in 1861.'

Lady Williams said she was not dismissing the demand.

The Home Secretary had said he would look at it and the Home Office kept all laws under review.

The Home Office believes that because Begum's mother was born in Bangladesh, her daughter is entitled to dual citizenship.

This would theoretically mean that she would not be left stateless if she was stripped of British nationality, which is illegal under international law.

But the chances of the 19-year-old returning to Britain may have increased after the Bangladeshi ministry of foreign affairs accused Sajid Javid of 'erroneously identifying' Begum as a dual citizen - and insisted she will not be allowed into the country.

After learning her fate, 'shocked' Begum initially said she would seek citizenship in Holland - where her jihadi husband Yago Riedijk is from.

But the Dutch Government today also appeared to slam the door, telling the Sun Online that Begum does not have the residence permit required to live there.

The Netherlands also does not offer its help to returning Dutch jihadis, and can also strip its nationals of their citizenship if they are deemed a national security threat.

Shahrial Alam, state minister of foreign affairs in Bangladesh, said today there is 'no question' of her being allowed into the country and that she is not a citizen.

Only last week, Britain's MI6 chief said that UK nationals, even those who are members of terror organisations like ISIS, have a legal right to return home.

Government guidance from 2017 states that the Home Secretary has the power to order the deprivation if it would be 'conducive to the public good', as long as they are not left without any citizenship.

A Home Office spokesman said he could not discuss individual cases, but added: 'We don't leave people stateless.'

Mr Javid on Monday told the House of Commons: 'The powers available to me include banning non-British people from this country and stripping dangerous dual nationals of their British citizenship.'

More than 100 people have already been deprived in this way.

What will happen to Begum's new born son, however, remains unclear.

He was born before his mother was deprived of citizenship - meaning he is still legally British.

And while theoretically he could also have his citizenship revoked, the government would need to show he himself posed a threat.

Begum claims that her first two children both died of unknown illnesses under ISIS.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey accused Mr Javid of 'an abdication of responsibility' by 'palming off' Begum on to another country.

'The UK has more than enough terrorism laws to prosecute Shamima Begum here,' he said.

Meanwhile Conservative chair of the Commons Education Committee, Robert Halfon, who had spoken out against allowing Begum to return, said in a tweet that Mr Javid had made 'absolutely the right decision'.

The move comes after Begum returned to the public eye when she was found heavily pregnant living in a refugee camp in northern Syria.

She gave birth to a boy over the weekend, and made pleas to be accepted back in the UK. However opponents criticised her lack of apparent remorse for joining ISIS.

On Tuesday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the 19-year-old could expect to be 'spoken to' if she comes back to Britain.

The initial police stance when Ms Begum left the UK in 2015 was that she may be treated as a victim of grooming, but the Scotland Yard chief said: 'We're a long way down the road since then.'

Begum's baby son Jerah is entitled to British citizenship - but could try to argue he is Dutch because of the nationality of its jihadi father (pictured) and she is pinning her hopes on getting Dutch citizenship off the back of it herself

She added: 'If she does, under whatever circumstances, arrive at our borders, somebody in her type of circumstances could expect, of course, to be spoken to and, if there is the appropriate necessity, to be potentially arrested and certainly investigated.

Removing Begum's citizenship 'could be exploited by radicals' Radical Islamists could exploit unease caused by the decision to strip Shamima Begum of her British citizenship, the Government's chief adviser on countering extremism has warned. Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the move after the teenager, who fled London aged 15 to join the so-called Islamic State caliphate in Syria, said she wanted to return to the UK with her newborn son. Independent adviser Sara Khan cautioned on Thursday that the Government must acknowledge the anxiety caused by the decision, with extremists being eager to 'exploit alienation and grievance'. 'While it is for courts to test the legality of decisions such as deprivation of citizenship, we have to also ask how measures such as this impact wider work on countering extremism,' she said. 'The Government has to recognise the unease felt by a wide range of people about decisions of this kind, not least those from minority communities with dual nationality. 'It has to build trust in its approach, because Islamist extremists will exploit alienation and grievance to turn people against their country.'

'If that results in sufficient evidence for a prosecution then it will result in sufficient evidence for a prosecution.

'The officers will deal with whatever they are confronted with.'

On Monday, in an interview with the BBC, Ms Begum compared the Manchester Arena bombing to military strikes on Isis strongholds, calling the terror attack 'retaliation'.

There are currently plans to change the law to make travelling to certain terror hotspots a criminal offence, but this would not apply retrospectively to Ms Begum.

Around 425 suspected jihadi fighters are thought to have returned to the UK from Syria so far.

Before yesterday's decision, the Home Secretary had already hinted that he would block Begum from returning to the UK.

Earlier this week ,Mr Javid told MPs that no British troops would be used to rescue any Britons who travelled to Syria to support terrorism.

He said more than 900 people went to Syria or Iraq, adding: 'Whatever role they took in the so-called caliphate, they all supported a terrorist organisation and in doing so they have shown they hate our country and the values we stand for.'

He went on: 'Now this so-called caliphate is crumbling, some of them want to return and I have been very clear where I can and where any threat remains I will not hesitate to prevent this.

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'The powers available to me include banning non-British people from this country and stripping dangerous dual nationals of their British citizenship.'

Shamima Begum, 19 (pictured before she left the country four years ago) is pleading with the government to allow her back into Britain