OTTAWA – A group of Canadian Members of Parliament is demanding that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand seek a formal explanation from the Israeli government after they were barred from entering the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.
The delegation, consisting of six MPs from the Liberal and New Democratic (NDP) parties, was part of a 30-person “fact-finding mission” organized by the charity The Canadian-Muslim Vote (CMV). The group was intercepted by Israeli authorities at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan.
In a letter sent to Minister Anand on Thursday evening, MPs Jenny Kwan (NDP) and Gurbax Saini (Liberal) urged the Canadian government to summon the Israeli Ambassador to Canada. They are calling for a clear justification for the denial of entry, especially since the delegation had secured prior electronic travel authorizations and the Canadian government had formally notified Israel of the trip in advance.
The letter also highlighted reports of physical mistreatment. Liberal MP Iqra Khalid alleged that she was shoved several times by Israeli border officials while attempting to check on a fellow delegate.
The Israeli Embassy in Canada defended the decision, stating that the delegation was denied entry due to security concerns and alleged links to terrorism. Israel claims that:
- The trip’s sponsor, The Canadian-Muslim Vote, receives significant funding from Islamic Relief Canada.
- Islamic Relief Canada is a subsidiary of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), which Israel designated as a “terrorist entity” in 2014.
The Canadian-Muslim Vote and the National Council of Canadian Muslims have strongly rejected these allegations, noting that Islamic Relief Canada is a registered charity in Canada and has previously received federal funding for humanitarian aid.
Delegation Members
The six MPs involved in the incident include:
- Iqra Khalid (Liberal)
- Gurbax Saini (Liberal)
- Sameer Zuberi (Liberal)
- Fares Al Soud (Liberal)
- Aslam Rana (Liberal)
- Jenny Kwan (NDP)
Minister Anita Anand has already expressed Canada’s objections regarding the “mistreatment” of the citizens on social media, but the MPs are now pushing for more significant diplomatic consequences.
