OTTAWA -- The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says a group of Canadian MPs and senators is continuing their weeklong trip to Israel after being shaken up by air raid sirens in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The Toronto-based group, which organized the trip, says the four MPs and three senators were dining in a restaurant when the sirens went off, indicating rocket attacks from Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip.

The group's CEO, Shimon Fogel, says the legislators were forced to take shelter in the basement until receiving all-clear.

Hamas militants have fired scores of rockets at Israel in the past few days, sparking Israel's largest offensive in the Gaza Strip in nearly two years, which has killed at least 25 people.

Canada has joined Britain and the United States in condemning the Hamas attacks.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada believes Israel has every right to defend itself "from such belligerent acts of terrorism."