Canada MPs Denied Entry to West Bank, Israel Cites Security Risk

A delegation of Canadian parliamentarians and civil society leaders was denied entry to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday, sparking renewed tensions over freedom of movement and human rights concerns in the region. Israel cited “public safety” as the reason for blocking the delegation, which included Jenny Kwan, a Member of Parliament with Canada’s left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP).

Kwan strongly rejected Israel’s claims, questioning how elected officials and humanitarian organizations could be considered a threat. “How is it that members of parliament are a public safety concern? How is it that civil society organizations doing humanitarian work are seen as a security threat?” she said in an interview.

The delegation, organized by nonprofit The Canadian-Muslim Vote, consisted of 30 Canadians aiming to conduct a fact-finding mission in the West Bank. Delegates intended to meet Palestinian community members to understand daily life under occupation and also planned meetings with Jewish families affected by the ongoing conflict.

After hours of inspection at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge—the only crossing controlled by Israel on the Palestinian side—the delegation was sent back to Jordan. Kwan reported that one female MP was “manhandled” multiple times by Israeli border agents while observing another delegate undergoing additional questioning.

Canadian authorities emphasized that the delegation was traveling independently and not officially representing the government. Global Affairs Canada said it “regrets” the incident but cannot intervene in Israel’s border and security policies. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed that the ministry communicated Canada’s objections over the treatment of its citizens but highlighted the limits of diplomatic influence in such cases.

The refusal to grant entry comes months after Canada recognized an independent Palestinian state in September—a move that reportedly angered Israeli leadership. Critics and members of the Canadian delegation questioned whether the denial was politically motivated to prevent foreign witnesses from seeing conditions on the ground. Fawad Kalsi, CEO of the relief group Penny Appeal Canada, asked, “What are they trying to hide?”

Kwan echoed these concerns, highlighting that foreign doctors attempting to bring medicine and baby formula into the West Bank were also turned away. She warned that restrictions like these allow misinformation and disinformation to persist and called for increased international scrutiny of Israel’s occupation policies.

The incident adds to growing calls for transparency and accountability in the region, as activists and humanitarian groups continue to report a surge in violence against Palestinians. Observers say that the international community must pay attention to both diplomatic and humanitarian dimensions to address the ongoing crisis effectively.