Tell Minister Virani: Investigate Canadians in the Israeli Military

Israel’s actions in Gaza show a pattern of war crimes and point to a “genocide in the making,” according to UN experts. Despite this, an unknown number of Canadians have chosen to travel to Israel and voluntarily participate in Israel’s military offensive. The participation of Canadians in the IDF raises the serious likelihood that they are involved in crimes against humanity, war crimes, and even acts of genocide. Canada is legally obliged to investigate and prosecute Canadians who commit war crimes overseas. Canada must launch an investigation into Canadians serving or volunteering with the IDF for possible complicity in war crimes.

Use the fields below to send an email to Justice Minister Arif Virani, other federal leaders and your local MP. Canada must investigate Canadians in the IDF for war crimes!

Disturbingly, CJPME is aware that Canadian nationals have travelled to Israel to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), with an unknown number of Canadians among the estimated 360,000 reservists. There are many examples in the Canadian press (CBC, Global, CP24, CJN) that feature stories of Canadians who have chosen to voluntarily participate in Israel’s military offensive, including as ‘lone soldiers.’ The participation of Canadian nationals in Israel’s offensive raises the serious likelihood that they are involved in the commission of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Canada has obligations under international law to investigate war crimes and prosecute the suspects. Under Canadian law, the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act states that:

• "Every person who, either before or after the coming into force of this section, commits outside Canada (a) genocide, (b) a crime against humanity, or (c) a war crime, is guilty of an indictable offence and may be prosecuted for that offence[.]"

In fact, Canada established a War Crimes Program for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting this criminal behaviour, and currently has a national investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. In that investigation, the RCMP’s webpage says it is collaborating with the International Criminal Court, and asks Ukrainians in Canada to report if they have “witnessed or experienced potential war crimes and crimes against humanity while in Ukraine.”

Unfortunately, Canada failed to issue any guidance to Canadian nationals regarding how their participation in the Israeli military could make them criminally liable under these laws. On the contrary, past behaviour by the Canadian Embassy to Israel – including the hosting of a social gathering for Canadian nationals serving as ‘lone soldiers’ in the IDF in 2020 – has sent a message that Canada is encouraging participation in the IDF, rather than seeking to discourage participation in an occupying army that is violating international law.

CJPME has urged Minister Virani to discourage Canadian involvement in the Israeli military and ensure that any person who is involved in the commission of war crimes is held accountable. Specifically, CJPME called on the Canadian government to:

• Issue a warning to Canadian nationals that serving or volunteering with the Israeli military may make them criminally liable under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act;
• Launch an investigation under its War Crimes Program into the participation of Canadian nationals involved in Israel’s military offensive;
• Ensure that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is conducting detailed interviews with Canadian nationals who are returning from foreign military service;
• Share the findings of its investigations with the International Criminal Court;
• Publicly investigate the HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers for breaching section 11(1) of Canada’s Foreign Enlistment Act by inducing Canadians to join the Israeli military.