Ramallah – Zaytoun News
Israeli Occupation authorities barred a Canadian delegation yesterday from entering the West Bank via the Karameh (Allenby) border crossing with Jordan. The delegation comprised approximately 30 people, including six Members of the Canadian House of Commons. The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Canada and Israel following Canada’s recognition of an independent Palestinian state in September 2025.
The six MPs in the delegation were Sameer Zuberi, Iqra Khalid, Islam Ranna, Fares Abu Al-Saud, Gurbux Saini, and Jenny Kwan. They represent the governing Liberal Party and the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP). The delegation also included members of Canadian Muslim Vote and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM/CNMC), both registered, non-profit organizations in Canada.
The purpose of the visit was to enable the MPs to meet with civil society groups in the West Bank, Palestinian refugees, and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. The itinerary included visits to several Palestinian cities, including Jerusalem, Jenin, and Hebron, as well as a number of refugee camps, with the aim of gaining first-hand insight into the living and political conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Israeli Embassy in Canada stated that the delegation was denied entry due to alleged links to Islamic Relief Worldwide, a non-governmental organization that Israel designates as a terrorist organization.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand wrote in a social media post that Canada had expressed its objection to the mistreatment of these Canadian citizens.
Liberal MP Iqra Khalid, who represents an Ontario riding and was part of the delegation, said she was pushed several times by Israeli border officials while attempting to check on the well-being of one of the delegation members.
According to Stephen Brown, President of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, Israeli authorities required each member of the delegation to sign a form declaring that they posed a threat to public security, an action the delegation members refused. Brown also confirmed that all members of the delegation had obtained electronic travel authorizations from Israel prior to arriving at the Jordan -West Bank border.
For its part, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military body responsible for civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that the delegation was denied entry following security screenings conducted in coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Population and Immigration Authority, citing security-related reasons and claiming that some visitors had arrived without prior coordination.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the MPs expressed disappointment and surprise at the decision, describing it as part of a broader Israeli policy aimed at restricting access for those seeking to witness conditions in the occupied territories firsthand. The MPs stressed that the visit was intended solely to conduct fact-finding and assess the situation of refugees and civil society, with no involvement in activities that could pose a security threat to Israel.
Canada officially recognized an independent Palestinian state on 21 September 2025, a move that drew strong criticism from Israel and was part of a similar wave of recognitions by the United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia, and France.
Jenny Kwan, a member of the delegation, had previously anticipated difficulties in entering the West Bank, citing the deterioration of Canada–Israel relations following Canada’s recognition of Palestine in September 2025.
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