A group of 30 Canadians, including six Members of Parliament, were not allowed entry into the West Bank on Tuesday due to security reasons, according to a statement from Israel’s co-ordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT). The COGAT stated that the delegation arrived at the Allenby border crossing without prior coordination and after security checks, their entry into the Judea and Samaria area was denied.

A representative from the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) mentioned that each delegate was required to sign a form declaring them as a threat to public safety before accessing the territory. However, Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, one of the MPs denied entry, clarified that the NCCM’s account was inaccurate, stating that the form only notified individuals of the reasons for denial rather than granting entry.

The delegation, organized by The Canadian-Muslim Vote, was set to engage with civil society groups, Palestinian refugees, and officials from the Canadian government and the Palestinian Authority in various locations such as Jerusalem, Jenin, Hebron, and refugee camps. The members of the group are reported to be safe and are returning to Canada after attending scheduled meetings.

The trip comes amidst strained relations between Canada and Israel, following Canada’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state, which was criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the United Nations General Assembly. This incident echoes a similar situation in January 2024 when a group of Liberal and NDP MPs visited displaced Palestinians in the West Bank.

CBC News had reached out to the Israeli government for comment prior to the visit, but no information was provided at that time.