Montreal, Canada – Former United Nations special rapporteur Richard Falk, renowned for his investigations into Israeli abuses against Palestinians, was interrogated by Canadian authorities on “national security” grounds while traveling to participate in a Gaza-focused tribunal in Ottawa.
Falk, 95, an international law expert from the United States, told Al Jazeera that he and his wife, fellow legal scholar Hilal Elver, were stopped at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday. Both were held for more than four hours before being allowed to continue their journey.
Alleged National Security Detention
“A security person came and said, ‘We’ve detained you both because we’re concerned that you pose a national security threat to Canada,’” Falk said. “It was my first experience of this sort – ever – in my life.”
The couple was traveling to attend the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, a two-day event bringing together international human rights and legal experts to examine Canada’s role in Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza. UN inquiries and human rights organizations have described these attacks as constituting genocide.
During the questioning, Falk said authorities asked about their past work on Israel, Gaza, and genocide-related issues. While the interrogation was “not particularly aggressive,” he described it as “random and disorganized.”
Falk expressed concern that this questioning reflects a global effort to “punish those who endeavour to tell the truth” about conflicts such as the Israeli assault on Gaza.
Canadian Authorities Respond
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), responsible for managing the country’s borders, told Al Jazeera it cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy rules. CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy explained that all travelers, including foreign nationals, may be referred to secondary inspection, which does not imply wrongdoing.
Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Falk’s allegations that his detention was part of a broader crackdown on opposition to Israel’s Gaza operations.
Political and Public Reaction
Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo, a supporter of the Palestine Tribunal, said he was “appalled” that two respected international law and human rights experts were questioned on national security grounds.
“If those are the factums for their detention, then it suggests that the Canadian government considers these acts of seeking justice for Palestine to be national security threats – and I’d like to know why,” Woo said.
The tribunal itself convened experts to assess Canada’s role in Israel’s two-year bombardment of Gaza and its indirect contribution through continued arms exports.
Canadian Arms Exports and Gaza Crisis
Canada has faced mounting international pressure to reconsider its longstanding support for Israel. Despite suspending weapons permits in 2024, loopholes have allowed Canadian-made arms to continue reaching Israel, often via the United States.
Rachel Small, Canada organizer for antiwar group World Beyond War, told the tribunal that the violence in Gaza continues due to weapons supplied from multiple countries, including Canada.
“At least 260 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas last month,” Small noted, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by restricted access to food, water, medicine, and shelter.
Falk stressed that the conflict and its human toll are far from over, warning of an “incremental genocide” carried out through less intense but persistent attacks.
Importance of Exposing the Reality in Gaza
Falk argued that international attention remains crucial to exposing the realities on the ground in Gaza. “There’s this whole false sense that the genocide is over,” he said. “But Israel is carrying out the genocidal project in a less aggressive way … it’s what some have called the incremental genocide.”
The interrogation of Falk and Elver underscores the heightened sensitivities around activism and international human rights work related to Gaza. It also raises questions about freedom of expression, human rights advocacy, and national security policies in Canada.
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