Canada investigates dual-citizens serving in IDF for war crimes, fueling concerns of growing hostility toward Israel

Canadian citizens who have recently served in Israel’s army are being quietly investigated for war crimes, according to the Toronto Star. 

Canadian media reported on Tuesday that individuals involved in combating Iranian-backed terror in the war triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack are now facing criminal investigations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are reportedly questioning Canadian citizens – both active-duty and reservist members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – regarding allegations of committing crimes against humanity during their service.

However, there has been no official announcement to that effect, and it was the Toronto Star that first broke the news on Tuesday. The war crimes inquiry, labelled “structural investigations,” could potentially lead to indictments. The investigation was opened last year, and is being exposed only now.

The move has alarmed many in the Jewish community, according to YNet, and they have expressed concerns on a WhatsApp group complaining, “Canada is becoming more hostile toward us by the day.” 

Many of those under investigation are “lone soldiers,” dual citizens who went to serve in the IDF of their own accord. Now Israeli families in the WhatsApp group have expressed hesitation about allowing their children to serve as lone soldiers.

“We’re moments away from war crimes charges,” came one of the comments in the group chat. “Kids with Canadian passports who served in the IDF could face prosecution when they return. This is so serious, people. Lawyers are already working on this – but no one’s investigating the Gazans who came here.”

The RCMP state that their aim is to uphold “Canada’s commitment towards international justice and the fight against impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.” The scope of the inquiry is to investigate all “potential war crimes related to the Israel-Hamas conflict” which could theoretically include Palestinians as well as Israelis, but many in the Jewish and Israeli communities in Canada are not convinced that the investigation will go both ways. 

Their concern does not appear to be without basis. Two weeks ago, Canada, along with France and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement saying, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.” The statement, published on May 19, included threats of sanctions and reiterated support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“It feels like we’re on the brink of a flare-up,” said one source in the Jewish community, with another complaining that the scrutiny which is focused on Israelis more than Palestinians was “the mother of all antisemitism.”

According to the Toronto Star, the Department of Justice said they were seeking to “deny safe haven to war criminals and seek accountability for alleged atrocities either by sharing evidence with other authorities or trying individuals in Canadian courts.”