A Canadian delegation, which was barred from entering the West Bank earlier this month, is urging the Canadian government to strengthen sanctions against new Israeli settlements in occupied territories. The group, including six Canadian Members of Parliament on a mission to visit displaced Palestinians, was denied entry at the Allenby border crossing on December 16.
Witnesses reported that Ontario MP Iqra Khalid was pushed by an Israeli border guard during the incident. Representatives of the delegation, which included members of Canadian-Muslim Vote, Justice for All Canada, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims, are requesting Ottawa to prohibit the import of goods from the occupied West Bank and prevent Canadians from purchasing property in those settlement areas.
This call comes in response to Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements in parts of the West Bank under military control, a decision that Canada has criticized along with its allies. The groups are engaged in discussions with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s office regarding the events of December 16 but have not yet had a formal meeting with the minister.