OTTAWA — Canada has notably refrained from signing a multi-nation statement urging Israel to lift its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza. The statement also calls for the protection of local journalists in the Palestinian territories.

Canada co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition in 2020 and has previously endorsed numerous statements addressing issues in places like Hong Kong and Sudan. However, it is absent from the list of 27 countries that have signed the recent call for Israel to grant "independent foreign media access" to Gaza and ensure the safety of journalists throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories.

This marks a rare instance where Canada has not joined a coalition statement. The only other occasion was during the 2021 election campaign. When asked for clarification on this decision, Global Affairs Canada did not provide an immediate response.

The statement comes in the wake of condemnation from Canada and other nations regarding the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who was reportedly accused by Israel of leading a Hamas cell.

In a separate joint statement, Canada also criticized Israel's recent approval of plans to construct settlements that would limit Palestinian access to Jerusalem and create a divide between the city and the West Bank.