Israel refused entry on Tuesday to a Canadian delegation, including six members of parliament, attempting to cross into Judea and Samaria via the Allenby Bridge because the group's trip is sponsored by The Canadian Muslim Vote, a non-profit registered in Canada that allegedly has ties to an Israeli-designated terrorist entity. The lawmakers had planned to meet with civil society groups, Palestinian refugees, and displaced persons, as well as representatives of the Canadian government and the Palestinian Authority.
The six parliamentarians in the delegation include Liberal MPs Fares Al-Soud, Iqra Khalid, Aslam Rana, Gurbux Saini, and Sameer Zuberi, alongside NDP MP Jenny Kwan. Prior to the trip, Kwan told CBC News she suspected the group might face entry refusal given the deterioration in relations between Ottawa and Jerusalem over the past two years.
The visit is sponsored by The Canadian Muslim Vote, a registered non-profit. According to the Israeli Embassy in Canada, the group receives the majority of its funding from "Islamic Relief Canada," a branch of "Islamic Relief Worldwide," which appears on Israel's list of terror-designated entities. The MPs were scheduled to visit Judea and Samaria to meet with Palestinian families and hear about how they are supposedly being maligned by Jewish settlers, as well as to meet with Palestinian Authority officials to discuss democratic reforms. According to local Canadian reports, a similar visit was organized in early 2024 for a different group of Liberal and socialist NDP lawmakers, but tensions between Canada and Israel have since worsened. Relations ran aground following Canada's official recognition of a Palestinian state about three months ago.
In a statement to CBC News, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that "several foreign nationals who arrived at the Allenby Bridge crossing without prior coordination" were barred from entering. "Following checks by security officials, in coordination with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Population and Immigration Authority, the decision was made to prevent their entry into the Judea and Samaria region for security reasons," the statement read.
MP Kwan, however, insisted the delegation had coordinated with Israeli authorities through Canadian government channels, while two other lawmakers alleged "aggressive" treatment by Israeli border officials. "At no point did we try to hide the information. We were completely forthright," Kwan said in an interview with CBC News.
She explained that the MPs hold special diplomatic passports and were not provided with the standard entry refusal form – and consequently were not asked to sign it. She added that she does not accept the justification Israel provided for the refusal.
"I reject outright the claim that civil society organizations engaged in humanitarian work on the ground constitute a security threat, and I also reject the idea that members of parliament, who are performing their duties, somehow constitute a security threat," she said. Kwan noted that before attempting to enter, the delegation visited a refugee camp in Jordan and spoke with families about their experiences. She remarked that she had not yet heard how the Canadian government intends to respond, but added: "One must ask – what exactly is the Israeli government trying to hide?"
MP Iqra Khalid of Ontario, a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney's party, told CBC News she was part of the delegation and was pushed several times by Israeli border inspectors.
She recounted noticing an Israeli official interrogating another delegation member and approaching to ensure her colleague was not in danger. According to Khalid, one officer ordered her to step back, after which another officer approached her. "He was yelling and screaming at my face, telling me to go away, and he pushed me back into the wall," Khalid said. "At that point, I said, 'Please don't touch me,' and he said, 'I will touch you as much as I want,' and pushed me again."
Khalid noted that other representatives intervened "and took me away from that situation before it escalated" before it could escalate. "I was shocked by the aggressive and hostile behavior," she added.
Global Affairs Minister Anita Anand released a statement on X regarding the incident. "Today a private delegation of Canadians – which included Members of Parliament – was denied entry to the West Bank at an Israeli border crossing," Anand wrote. "Global Affairs is in contact with the delegation and we have expressed Canada's objections regarding the mistreatment of these Canadians while attempting to cross."
Speaking with CBC News, Islamic Relief Canada CEO Tufail Hussain said Israel's accusations were "false and reckless."
"Islamic Relief Canada is a Canadian-registered humanitarian charity operating under Canadian law, with rigorous compliance controls and extensive independent auditing," Hussain said.
