DayofPal—A former United Nations special rapporteur known for investigating Israeli human rights violations says he was held and questioned by Canadian officials on “national security” grounds while travelling to Canada for a Gaza-related event this week.
Richard Falk, a US-based international law scholar, said that he and his wife, legal researcher Hilal Elver, were stopped at Toronto Pearson Airport on Thursday and subjected to hours of questioning.
Falk, who served as the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory from 2008 to 2014, added that he was informed that Canadian authorities considered the couple potential security risks.
The 95-year-old described the encounter as unprecedented in his long career and said they were asked in detail about their academic work on Israel, Gaza and genocide-related issues.
The pair had been travelling to Ottawa to take part in the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, a two-day gathering of international legal and human rights experts.
The tribunal examined Canada’s role in Israel’s two-year-long military genocide on Gaza.
Falk said the questioning lasted more than four hours and, although civil in tone, appeared unfocused and irregular. He believes the incident is part of a broader global effort to intimidate or marginalise critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Such measures, he said, reflect governments’ growing unease with dissenting perspectives on the conflict.
The Canada Border Services Agency did not comment on Falk’s case but said secondary inspections are a standard part of its security screening process and should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.
Global Affairs Canada did not respond to questions about whether the interrogation was connected to Falk’s political positions or participation in the tribunal.
Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo, who supported the tribunal, said he was “appalled” that respected scholars were questioned on national security grounds. He argued that if the detention was linked to their work on Gaza, it raises serious concerns about whether Canada considers advocacy for Palestinian rights to be a security threat.
The incident comes as Canada faces increased scrutiny for its longstanding support of Israel. Although Ottawa suspended new arms export permits to Israel in 2024, researchers say loopholes continue to allow Canadian-made weapons to reach Israel, often through the United States.
As Israeli attacks have continued despite a ceasefire, Falk said it remains essential to expose conditions in Gaza. He warned that the belief the genocide has ended is misleading, describing Israel’s current actions as a prolonged and “incremental” continuation of earlier violence.
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