A Canadian delegation, consisting of 30 individuals, including six Members of Parliament, faced denial of entry into the West Bank early on Tuesday, citing “security reasons” according to a statement from Israel’s co-ordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT), which oversees civilian authorities and border crossings in the region. The COGAT statement mentioned that several foreign nationals arrived at the Allenby border crossing without prior coordination, leading to thorough security checks in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Population and Immigration Authority, resulting in the denial of their entry into the Judea and Samaria area.
Notably, each delegate, which included members affiliated with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), was required to sign a form declaring them a public safety threat before accessing the territory. However, Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, one of the MPs barred from entering the West Bank, clarified discrepancies in the NCCM’s portrayal of the border incident, emphasizing that signing the form would not have granted entry but only served as a notification of the reasons behind the denial.
The delegation, sponsored by The Canadian-Muslim Vote, intended to engage with civil society groups, Palestinian refugees, internally displaced individuals, Canadian government officials, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) across various locations like Jerusalem, Jenin, Hebron, and refugee camps. Despite the entry denial, the members are safe and en route back to Jordan, with plans to return to Canada post attending scheduled meetings.
The situation unfolds amidst strained relations between Canada and Israel following Canada’s recent formal recognition of a Palestinian state, a move criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), expressing discontent alongside other Western nations that also acknowledged Palestine. This incident follows a previous visit by Liberal and NDP MPs to the region in January 2024, where they interacted with displaced Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. When approached for comment prior to the delegation’s visit, the Israeli government spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, stated no information was available to share.