Israel blocks Canada lawmakers at West Bank border crossing

Six members of Canada's parliament travelling from Jordan were denied entry to the occupied West Bank on Tuesday by Israeli authorities who accused the delegation of being sponsored by "a terror entity."

Jenny Kwan, an opposition lawmaker with Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, told AFP that one MP, Iqra Khalid of Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party, was "pushed multiple times" by an Israeli border officer.

The lawmakers were on a trip sponsored by Canadian-Muslim Vote, a charity group.

Israel's embassy in Canada told AFP in a statement that the charity receives funding from Islamic Relief Canada, a subsidiary of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), which has been "listed as a terror entity by the State of Israel."

IRW has rejected Israel's long-standing charge that it is a terrorist group with ties to Hamas.

Kwan said the delegation gave Israeli authorities prior warning about their trip, which included a range of planned meetings with aid groups, as well as Palestinian and Jewish civil society leaders.

"The Government of Canada formally notified the Government of Israel ahead of the delegation's travel," she said in a statement.

"Electronic travel authorizations to enter the West Bank were initially approved," but on arrival at the Allenby Bridge crossing on Tuesday "the entire delegation was denied entry to the West Bank."