Canadian Members of Parliament and Delegation Denied Entry To the West Bank

The delegation, joined by [National Council of Canadian Muslims] NCCM staff, included 6 Canadian Members of Parliament, alongside civil society and community leaders, with the goal of observing conditions on the ground and engaging directly with Palestinian and international stakeholders.

Following the denial, all delegation members are safe and are now returning to Jordan, with onward travel back to Canada to follow after more meetings in Jordan.

“This development is deeply troubling and extremely disappointing,” said Stephen Brown, CEO of NCCM. “Israeli authorities had issued electronic travel authorizations to all members of the delegation, yet lawful observers, including elected Canadian officials, were ultimately barred from entry as 'public safety threats'. While we are saddened by this outcome, it regrettably aligns with a broader pattern by the Israeli government of restricting access to those seeking to independently witness the realities in the occupied territories.”

The TCMV-led delegation had planned meetings with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian advocates and community representatives across the region, including Jerusalem, Jenin, Hebron, and multiple refugee camps.

Prior to the attempted entry, the delegation spent a full day in Jordan meeting with parliamentarians and visiting refugee camps to better understand the regional humanitarian context.

The refusal by the government of Israel to allow Canadian Members of Parliament access to the West Bank raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the ability of elected officials to carry out fact-finding missions on behalf of Canadians.

Watch an interview with the CEO of NCCM below: