Tuesday 03/June/2025 – 01:14 PM
The Canadian authorities began an official investigation into accusations against Canadian citizens of Israeli descent, of their involvement in crimes against humanity during their military service in the Israeli army in the war on the Gaza Strip, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Canada opens an investigation into war crimes in Gaza
The investigation, which was launched in 2024, was recently revealed through the Toronto Star newspaper, represents the first official government investigation of its kind in Canada related to this issue, which sparked a wave of concern within the Jewish and Israeli community in the country.
Canadian Federal Police described RCMP as a structural, a term dedicated to investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity, and comes within a joint national program that includes the Ministry of Justice, immigration and border authorities.
The report pointed out that the investigation is targeting Canadians who served in the Israeli army, whether in regular service or reserve, and includes collecting evidence and exchanging information with international bodies, with the possibility of judicial charges in Canada.
This investigation differs from the previous investigations conducted on war crimes in Ukraine, which were characterized by extensive public measures that include publishing information, collecting certificates and media campaigns, as the investigation of the Israeli case was not accompanied by any official declaration or gathering evidence publicly so far.
The authorities described the investigation as related to crimes related to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian factions, with the possibility of including Palestinians residing in Canada as part of the investigations, although the prevailing trend indicates that Israel accused of war crimes in Gaza.
This step comes in the context of a tangible escalation in the Canadian government’s policy towards Israel, after previous initiatives were limited to special organizations.
A number of members of the Jewish and Israeli community express fears that arrest orders or summonses may be issued to investigate the right of Canadians who served in the Israeli army, considering that the situation is about to explode.
On the other hand, relations between Canada and Israel witnessed additional tension after the announcement of Canada, in cooperation with Britain and France, the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel due to the military escalation in Gaza, and called on the three countries Israel to immediately stop military operations and raise the restrictions imposed on the entry of humanitarian aid to the Strip.
This new development reflects the major change in the Canadian position towards the conflict in the Middle East, and places the Israeli community in Canada in front of unprecedented legal and social challenges.
