Canada/U.K./Norway/Australia/New Zealand Sanctioning Israel .. RCMP 'Investigating' Canadians in the IDF

"Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of New Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous."

"Itimar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights."

"Extremist settler violence and settlement expansion [is imperilling a two-state solution]."

"This is why we have taken action now -- to hold those responsible to account." 

"Violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity. The Israeli government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric." 

Sanctions statement, Canada/U.K., Norway, Australia, New Zealand 

 

"It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures."

"I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu, and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision." 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar 

 

"These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring hostages home and end the war."

"We reject any notion of equivalence; Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continue to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace."

"The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel." 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio 

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (L) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (R) have been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand  Getty Images

 

Canada's Royal Candian Mounted Police announced a 'structural investigation' into whether citizens of Canada may have committed war crimes while serving with the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza. An announcement that has elicited incredulous fury from Jewish Canadians whose leaders level accusations against the the Liberal government of political targeting. The June 4 statement revealed that an investigation had begun in early 2024 to determine whether Canadian citizens were acting in contravention of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.

 

This was not -- the RCMP hastened to assure -- a criminal investigation, merely a pursuit of information to "collect, preserve and assess information" including "open-source material and voluntary submissions". It is well to note that should prosecutions ensue, the data may be used in court in the future, should it meet the legal threshold. While not specifying any group, entity, or military -- such as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Abu Shabab, PFLP, Muslim Brotherhood or others fighting in the conflict, Jewish groups parse the announcement as aiming directly at Canadians who have fought for the IDF.  

"It's funny how law enforcement in our cities have watched tens of thousands of people illegally protest and harass Jews while the RCMP tells us they want to play global cop and pour resources into finding bogeyman crimes."

"[His son, fighting with the IDF] doesn't know when or if there's a bullet with his name on it. But I never expected this kind of bullet that would come from my government, and that really tore up my heart. I feel betrayed." 

Israel Ellis, Torontonian 

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in Gaza City, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

 

Mr. Ellis pointed out that this is the second occasion when he felt his son, serving in Israel with the IDF has been targeted. The first time was when the Canadian site The Maple published a list of 85 Canadian-Israelis in an article attacking the IDF, for "ethnic cleansing, war crimes, apartheid and now genocide". The February article included a list of the 85 Canadian Israelis, both current or former Israeli soldiers. Mr. Ellis found his son Eitan's name on the list. 

 

UN Watch's Montreal-born executive director Hillel Neuer, stated the investigation is "nothing less than a moral inversion. It turns Canadian values upside down. For good reason, Ottawa has never prosecuted dual citizens who served with British, French or American forces in fighting ISIS and al-Qaeda." It is, he said "unconscionable" the federal Liberals "were even contemplating the prosecution of Canadians who fought in defence of civilians against a genocidal terrorist group".

 

Foundation for Defense of Democracies

 

"How do you know what happened at what time, at what day, for what reason an IDF soldier did what you think they did? You have no clue. You couldn't tell what happened unless you had somebody's bodycam. Do you really think that they have all the necessary footage and resources that they need to make a judgement? No, like, stay in your lane. Focus on the issues that you have in Canada", responded Noy Leyb of Calgary, recently serving in Gaza. Noting that when Israeli authorities suspect soldiers of ill actions, they are  tried in a court of law. 

 

330 Gazans on the other hand, have arrived in Canada since the war began. "Did anyone check whether they were involved with war crimes of Hamas? I'll bet not." There are about 7,000 lone soldiers in Israel -- those serving from other countries -- while an IDF study showed that in 2022 before the current war began,there were 51 Canadians. 

 

Israeli soldiers walk through the destruction caused by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (credit: EDI ISRAEL/FLASH90)

 

"Any suggestion that Israeli-Canadians should be targeted for their service -- particularly in a war of self-defence waged by a close ally of Canada -- not only represents a cynical distortion of the law, but fuels the violent hatred faced by Israelis and Jews in North America."

"Authorities [should] carefully consider the impact on public safety of future statements, given the heightened threat environment faced by our community."

Noah Shack, interim president, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

 

"[His organization has] been advocating for such an investigation. The group sent a letter in January to Arif Virani, then Justice Minister, to seek action against] Canadian nationals in violations of international law in Gaza."

"[CJPME] cautiously welcome [the RCMP probe and felt there was] serious likelihood [that Canadians were] involved in the commission of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide."

"[They want the Canada Border Services Agency to conduct] detailed interviews [with Canadian nationals returning from foreign military service to share with the International Criminal Court]."

Michael Bueckert, acting president, anti-Israel Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East 

Toronto television personality, Shai DeLuca, former IDF combat engineer, believes the investigations stemmed from "very loud fundamentalist voices that the government is trying to pander to. Nothing has been brought against any Canadian that served in the IDF from a year and a half ago until today. So, you know, I'm not concerned." At the same time there are war catastrophes in Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. "It's very important that people understand that service in the IDF during this war is not illegal in Canada, nor is it a war crime." 

"So the RCMP can pretend all that it wants that it's doing some investigation, but just like they said in that clarified statement, they're opening channels to people who want to send them stuff. Well, you know, people send me stuff all the time. Doesn't make it true."  

Israeli soldiers guard near the Gaza European Hospital near Khan Yunis, Gaza, on June 8, 2025. Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images

 

"No other Western democracy is criminally investigating its citizens for fighting alongside an ally, let alone one  defending itself from a genocidal terror organization."

"The Canadian government] should focus its pressure on Hamas -- the party that initiated this war."

"[The Israel Law Center will provide] legal defence and advocacy for those targeted by politically-driven investigations."

"The Mounties have made an [unprecedented decision]." 

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, president, Israel-based Shurat HaDin -- Israel Law Center