Justice for All Canada: Israel Denies Entry to Canadian Civil Society Delegation Visiting West Bank​

The delegation arrived with valid travel authorizations, granted by the occupying power Israel, for the purpose of visiting diverse Palestinians across Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin and Jerusalem. The itinerary included trips to various Palestinian refugee camps.

Canadian participants representing NGOs, humanitarian and civil society groups had planned to speak with Palestinians from Christian, Muslim and Jewish backgrounds, including regional community groups. The delegation also included Canadians of Palestinian background.

Instead, Israeli border control authorities sought to have delegates sign a declaration falsely framing their presence as a threat to public safety. This is a frequent move which functions as a routine coercion rather than a legitimate border procedure.

“This targeted exclusion of those seeking to meet Palestinians is a political practice routinely used by Israel against academics, human rights and U.N. experts,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. “This was a political decision aimed at barring access to documenting lived experiences under the longstanding occupation. We continue standing unwaveringly in solidarity with Palestinians undergoing violence and displacement,” added Ghayyur.

No valid reason was provided for the denial of entry, and it cannot be credibly justified on supposed safety grounds. While the delegation was transparent in its purpose–a peaceful fact-finding and diplomatic mission–Israel’s entry denial lacked transparency. Furthermore, the delegation comprised Members of Parliament and respected civil society leaders facing unacceptable mistreatment by border officials. The behaviour and conduct of Israeli border officials created an atmosphere of criminalization toward the delegation, warranting immediate attention from Canada’s Government.

We denounce this latest act of profiling as a violation of international human rights standards which emphasize the importance of independent fact-finding and reporting access to occupied territories. This was not about security. By barring Canadian Members of Parliament and rights groups from entering, they were also prevented from witnessing and reporting apartheid and other human rights violations against Palestinians.

Justice For All Canada calls on the Canadian Government to immediately:

• Condemn: Condemn this denial of entry as a politically motivated action by the Israeli government;
• Raise the Issue with the Israeli Government: Upon condemnation, raise the denial with the Israeli government and demand answers for the mistreatment and overall series of events;
• Protect Canadian Travellers: Ensure that human rights defenders are not targeted based on their advocacy, identity or engagement with Palestinian communities. Demand written assurances that Canadian elected leaders, such as Members of Parliament, journalists and rights defenders will not be forced to label themselves as security threats under false pretenses, or be arbitrarily detained when attempting to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

This past September, Canada recognized the State of Palestine. Canada’s recognition means little if our own Members of Parliament can be unjustly denied entry at a checkpoint while trying to visit the very state Canada says it recognizes. Canada must take meaningful action to denounce and deter this kind of oppressive conduct by the occupying power Israel.

Watch GTA Muslims Today interview with Justice for All Executive Directory Taha Ghayyur below: