"You must be aware that new leads will not magically appear without active effort from the RCMP and other law enforcement authorities."

"The stance you have taken is illogical and unacceptable to the families. How can the minister for public safety allow the criminals behind the largest terrorist act in Canadian history to go unpunished and for the families to go without justice?"

"[The families want more information on] the nature of scrutiny and oversight your office has had over the investigation over the years."

Sudha Berry, Toronto

 

"Family members were provided with an update concerning an individual (widely referred to as Mr. X) who had come to the attention of investigators. Over time, while an individual was identified, no definitive link to the events under investigation could be established."

"Today, while there are no other persons of interest or suspects under consideration, the investigation remains open. If new or credible information comes forward, it will be investigated. The RCMP has always endeavoured to seek justice for the victims of Air India and that commitment stands." 

RCMP statement 

The Berry family is seen in this portrait taken on May 1, 1985. It's the last photo the family has of Sharad, third from left, who would be killed in the Air India Flight 182 bombing just one month later. (Submitted by Sujata Berry)

 

The RCMP sent a letter on September 12 to "The families of the Victims of Air India Flight 182, 1985"; an invitation to attend a meeting that was planned to "provide an update on the current status of the Air India Flight 182 investigation, including an outline of future steps, stating that "We recognize that this continues to be a deeply personal and difficult experience, and we are committed to keeping you informed and supported." During that meeting the families were informed that no further leads have appeared that might assist the federal force in its pursuit of answers to the deadly terrorist attack.

 

That admission and what it implied, that the investigation was as good as shut down, drove the families to request an urgent meeting with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. The news that the investigation was now inactive failed to sit well with Canadian Hindus of Indian extraction who had lost relatives on that fateful flight when 329 people died on June 12, 1985 when a bomb exploded in flight, destroying Air India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland.

 

A memorial for the Air India bombing is seen in Vancouver in June 2025. The families of the victims say the RCMP has told them the investigation into the bombing is inactive. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

 

The families, given that unexpected turn of events that capped a long investigation by the federal policing agency which was rife with errors and misadventures, felt abandoned. That the RCMP had decided to surrender any further investigations into an attack that was the deadly work of Sikh Canadians connected to the Babbar Khalsa group that demanded an independent Khalistan be carved out of the Punjab region in India was shockingly unacceptable. The group has terrorist status in India and with good reason. 

 

That the Minister of Public Safety had issued a statement to the media that the investigation remained open, in contradiction to the RCMP's statement of closure, attracted the attention of Toronto resident Sudha Berry whose 15-year-old brother had been one of the Air India's victims. Travelling from Canada to India via London, Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland when a suitcase bomb exploded killing all on board. Another bomb, also produced in British Columbia by the Sikh Kalistani group, meant for another Air India flight, blew up at Narita Airport in Tokyo leading to the death of two baggage handlers.

 

Two men linked to the Babbar Khalsa in British Columbia were initially charged with the crime in 2000, but court proceedings in 2005 with insufficient evidence on hand saw them acquitted. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a third suspect, was subsequently convicted of manslaughter in connection with both bombings. He is no longer in prison. Other suspects were identified both during the trial and inquiry, but never charged. It was a generally felt impressionthat the RCMP had bungled the investigation. The worst terrorist plot executed in Canada has never resulted in those responsible facing justice for the atrocity they planned and carried out.

 

Two reporters look over the remains of Air India Flight 182 on June 16, 2004, that were reconstructed by investigators in January 2003. (Chuck Stoody/The Canadian Press)

 

Placatingly, Minister Anandasangaree's office responded to the families' concerns and a further media probe and enquiry, by stating that the investigation remains open, and "should new, credible information or evidence come forward, it will be assessed and investigated and may lead to further investigative steps".   

"Given your [Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree] connections to the community, your previous meetings with the families at the anniversaries and your personal expressions of sympathy, we had expected you to do much better than your predecessors."

"You now have an opportunity to show your leadership and change the trajectory of the investigation."

Sudha Berry for Families of Air India Victims

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