The delegation had prior electronic travel authorisations but was turned back at the Allenby Bridge crossing, opposition lawmaker Jenny Kwan told AFP.

Kwan, of Canada's New Democratic Party, said Iqra Khalid of Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party was "pushed multiple times" by an Israeli border officer.

Khalid told CBC she was watching another delegate being questioned by several officers when she stepped closer to ensure the delegate was safe. One officer told her to move back, she said, and then another approached.

"He was yelling and screaming at my face, telling me to go away, and he pushed me back into the wall," Khalid said. "At that point, I said, 'Please don't touch me,' and he said, 'I will touch you as much as I want,' and pushed me again."

Other delegates intervened "and took me away from that situation before it escalated," Khalid said. "I was shocked at the aggressive and hostile behaviour by these officials."

The lawmakers were on a trip sponsored by Canadian-Muslim Vote (TCMV), a donor-funded charity group. TCMV told CBC it was "disgusted but not surprised" by Israel's response.

"TCMV is a proud donor-funded organisation that receives contributions from qualified donors, and our support comes from folks who believe that a healthy democracy belongs to all of us," it said. "Clearly, that's not something that Israel believes."

Israel's embassy in Canada told AFP 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."

Israel has routinely discredited pro-Palestinian advocacy by labelling individuals and groups as affiliated with terrorism.

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

"I categorically reject the assertion that elected officials and civil society organisations engaging in humanitarian and fact-finding work pose any risk to public safety, security, or public order," she said in a statement.

"The Government of Canada formally notified the Government of Israel ahead of the delegation's travel," she added. "Electronic travel authorisations 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."

"The denial of entry to elected parliamentarians and civil society organisations engaged in peaceful, transparent parliamentary activity raises serious concerns regarding the openness of channels for dialogue," Kwan said. "The use of security and public order narratives to limit legitimate fact-finding work is completely unacceptable."

Kwan told AFP that before leaving Canada she considered possible difficulties due to Carney's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. "I wondered whether or not this would be an issue," she said, but put it out of her mind after the trip was approved.

Before attempting entry, the delegation visited a refugee camp in Jordan and spoke to families about their experiences in the West Bank. The group has returned to Jordan's capital Amman, Kwan said.

She has not yet heard Ottawa's formal reaction but posed the question about Israel's motives.

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on social media that Ottawa "has expressed Canada's objections regarding the mistreatment of these Canadians."

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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