Humanitarian, Refugees and Foreign Affairs

CTV News: ‘Really unfortunate’: Six MPs denied entry to West Bank by Israeli officials

B.C. NDP MP Jenny Kwan said Global Affairs Canada was made aware of the trip well in advance and informed the Israeli authorities that the delegation intended to cross into the occupied West Bank.

“I certainly hope that the Canadian government will follow up,” Kwan said from Jordan. “It should come as no surprise that we were coming and why we were all going.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand posted to X Tuesday that Canada has expressed its “objections regarding the mistreatment of these Canadians while attempting to cross.”

Click image or link to read and watch the news story - https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/really-unfortunate-six-mps-denied-entry-to-west-bank-by-israeli-officials/

 

Al Jazeera: Canadian MP blocked from West Bank rejects Israel’s ‘safety concern’ claims

A Canadian lawmaker who was denied entry to the occupied West Bank, alongside fellow politicians and civil society leaders, has dismissed Israel’s claims that the delegation posed a threat to public safety.

Jenny Kwan, a Canadian MP with the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), questioned whether Canada’s recognition of an independent Palestinian state earlier this year contributed to Israel’s decision to block the group.

“How is it that members of parliament are a public safety concern?” she said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “How is it that civil society organisations who are doing humanitarian work… [are] a security concern?”

Kwan and five other MPs were among 30 Canadian delegates denied entry to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday after Israel deemed them a risk to public safety.

The delegation, organised by nonprofit group The Canadian-Muslim Vote, was turned back to Jordan at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing, which connects Jordan with the West Bank and is controlled by Israel on the Palestinian side, after an hours-long security check.

Kwan said another female MP in the group was “manhandled” by Israeli border agents while attempting to keep an eye on a delegate who was being taken for additional interrogation.

“She was shoved – not once, not twice, but multiple times – by border agents there,” Kwan said. “A member of parliament was handled in that way – If you were just an everyday person, what else could have happened?”

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/16/canadian-mp-blocked-from-west-bank-rejects-israels-safety-concern-claims

CBC News: Canadian delegation, including MPs, denied entry to West Bank

Jenny Kwan, the NDP MP for Vancouver-East, was one of six members of Parliament denied entry into the occupied West Bank on Tuesday by the Israeli government, on the grounds of 'government, public security, public safety or public order considerations.' Kwan pushed back on the justification of the refusal of entry, calling it 'completely unacceptable.'

Click image or link to watch the news video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5RYyFnzpxI

Canadian Press: Liberal MP says she was shoved by Israeli officials at West Bank border crossing

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says she was shoved several times by Israeli border officials as her delegation was denied entry to the West Bank Tuesday morning.

Ontario MP Iqra Khalid said Tuesday she was pushed after trying to check on a member of the roughly 30-person delegation who was pulled aside for additional questioning after the group had been at the Allenby Crossing for several hours.

"I wanted to stay close by because there were three or four officers that were surrounding this young woman. And so I asked if I could be part of the conversation. They said no. So I took two steps back and I just was watching," Khalid said in an interview from Amman, Jordan.

"An Israeli officer came up to me and he was yelling at my face and said, 'Go away,' and he pushed me. I took a step back into the wall and I said, 'Don't touch me, please.' And he said, 'I'll touch you as much as I want,' and he pushed me again. And at that point, another officer came and he pushed me further back."

Khalid said another member of the delegation then came and pulled her back toward the rest of the group.

Khalid said the border officials would have known she was a parliamentarian because they had taken her special passport, which looks different from the standard Canadian document.

B.C. NDP MP Jenny Kwan and Quebec Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, who are also part of the delegation, both told The Canadian Press they witnessed the shoving incident.

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/travel/israel-blocks-canadian-delegation-including-mps-from-entering-the-west-bank/ar-AA1Stmys?ocid=BingNewsVerp

CBC News: Canada had advised Israel about delegation trip: Kwan

Jenny Kwan, the NDP MP for Vancouver-East, was one of six members of Parliament denied entry into the occupied West Bank on Tuesday by the Israeli government, on the grounds of 'government, public security, public safety or public order considerations.' Kwan pushed back on the justification of the refusal of entry, calling it 'completely unacceptable.'

Kwan says the delegation had advised the Canadian government of its trip and plans, which in turn communicated the information to Israel.

At no point did we try to hide the information. We were completely forthright, Kwan said in an interview with CBC News's Aarti Patel.

Kwan explained that Canadian members of Parliament are issued special passports and that they were not handed the form with the statement denying them entry — and therefore were not asked to sign it.

Still, she doesn't believe the reasons used by Israel to justify the denial.

I for one reject that notion that civil societies who are doing humanitarian work on the ground [are] a security threat and I also reject the fact that members of Parliament, doing our work, also pose, somehow, a security threat, Kwan said.

Before they attempted to enter, she said the delegation had visited a refugee camp in Jordan and spoken to families there about their experiences in the West Bank.

Kwan said she hasn't yet heard how the Canadian government will react to the news, but said, You have to ask the question: what is it that the Israeli government is trying to hide?

Click image or link to read and watch the news - https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/2214469/completely-unacceptable-mp-says-after-israel-blocks-canadian-delegation-from-entering-west-bank

Media Release: Statement from Jenny Kwan on Canadian MP's and Civil Society Organizations Denied Entry to West Bank

Statement from Jenny Kwan on Canadian MP's and Civil Society Organizations Denied Entry to West Bank

As part of a delegation of organized and sponsored by Canadian Muslim Vote, six Canadian Members of Parliament, along with representatives from civil society organizations, arrived in Amman on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The purpose of the visit for the delegation was to deepen our understanding by listening to and learning directly from individuals on the ground, including Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian, and Christian families, about their lived experiences.

During my time in Jordan, the delegation met with the Canadian Ambassador and government representatives, visited families living in refugee camps, and engaged with civil society organizations involved in humanitarian work. These meetings provided firsthand insight into daily conditions, lived realities, and the practical challenges facing affected communities. I also learned about the efforts of relief organizations and the impact of humanitarian projects in Jordan prior to our planned travel to the West Bank.

Upon arrival at the Allenby Border Crossing on December 16, 2025, the entire delegation was denied entry to the West Bank. Israeli authorities cited “public security, public safety, or public order considerations” as the basis for the denial. The Canadian government informed Israel of the delegation prior to travel.  I categorically reject the assertion that elected officials and civil society organizations engaging in humanitarian and fact-finding work pose any risk to public safety, security, or public order.

The delegation travelled in good faith with the intention of meeting a broad range of individuals, families, and community members to better understand their daily conditions and lived experiences. In Jordan, we met with displaced families residing in refugee camps and with organizations delivering humanitarian assistance on the ground.

All travel arrangements and documentation required to enter the West Bank were completed in advance and in full compliance with established requirements. The Government of Canada formally notified the Government of Israel ahead of the delegation’s travel. Electronic travel authorizations to enter the West Bank were initially approved but were subsequently revoked on the day of our arrival.

The denial of entry to elected parliamentarians and civil society organizations engaged in peaceful, transparent parliamentary activity raises serious concerns regarding the openness of channels for dialogue. I remain committed to constructive engagement, the rule of law, and the promotion of democratic principles in all international interactions. The use of security and public order narratives to limit legitimate fact-finding work is completely unacceptable.

 

CBC News: Liberal, NDP MPs to visit West Bank, connect with Palestinians

A group of five Liberal MPs and a lone NDP parliamentarian are planning to spend three days in Israel and the occupied West Bank, at a time of heightened tensions between Ottawa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Like a previous delegation of different Liberal and NDP MPs in early 2024, this group is taking part in sponsored travel by a registered Muslim non-profit, Canadian Muslim Vote.

The only NDP MP on this trip, Jenny Kwan, who represents Vancouver East, said she has some concerns about gaining entry into Israel.

The group’s itinerary also includes going into the Israeli-occupied West Bank, administered by the PA.

While there, they intend to meet with Palestinian families who have had run-ins with settlers, as well as PA officials to speak about democratic reform and institution-building.

Kwan said she expects there could be obstacles on any step of the itinerary, given the Israeli-controlled access into the swath of land.

“At any juncture, anything could happen,” she said.

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-mps-west-bank-visit-9.7015201

Canadian Press: House of Commons set to rise for six-week holiday break

Just before the House rose, MPs passed two pieces of legislation -- C-4 and C-12 -- which will now head to the Senate for consideration there.

Bill C-4 amends marginal personal income tax rates, eliminates the consumer carbon price and implements a temporary GST rebate for first-time homebuyers. The carbon price has been set to zero since April but this bill eliminates it through legislation.

Bill C-12, a revised version of a border bill, introduces new measures to help the Canada Border Services Agency tackle drug and gun smuggling and auto theft, as well as controversial changes to Canada’s refugee and asylum seeker regimes.

On Tuesday, NDP MPs Leah Gazan and Jenny Kwan joined with refugee and human rights advocates to implore the government not to pass the legislation. They called the legislation an attack on vulnerable people that will do little to make our borders safer but will fuel racism.

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/house-of-commons-set-to-rise-for-six-week-holiday-break/

HANSARD: Speech and debate against Bill C-12

Click below to read the Hansard of Jenny's speech and debate

CPAC: NDP MPs Discuss Liberals’ Border Bill

NDP MPs Jenny Kwan and Leah Gazan hold a news conference on Parliament Hill to discuss Bill C-12, the Liberal government’s border security bill. They are joined by representatives from women’s organizations and advocates for immigrant and refugee rights. (December 9, 2025) (no interpretation)

Click image or link to watch the press conference video - https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-mps-discuss-liberals-border-bill?id=4387467a-f6bc-4914-8f9a-57162568dfc6