RCMP: Israeli Canadians could be investigated for Gaza-based war crimes
The RCMP confirmed to The Jerusalem Report that it had launched a “structural investigation” into the Israel-Hamas conflict in early 2024 as part of its mandate to investigate war crimes.
PRO-PALESTINIAN protesters demonstrate outside the Liberal Party of Canada holiday party in Ottawa.(photo credit: Patrick Doyle/Reuters)ByGIL LEWINSKY
On June 2, The Toronto Star broke a story about the Canadian federal police service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), investigating alleged war crimes during the Gaza war. The news set off alarm bells in Canada’s Jewish community, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the Jewish community’s political arm, releasing the following statement: “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.”
The declaration did not come in a vacuum. It emerged as Canada attempts to multilaterally condemn Israel. On May 19, 2025, Canada joined Britain and France in demanding that Israel halt the war in Gaza and calling the humanitarian situation “wholly inadequate,” which resulted in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Canada was “on the wrong side of history.” On June 10, after the revelation of the RCMP investigation, Canada joined numerous other Anglo and European countries in sanctioning ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
According to a source with knowledge of internal decision-making, Canada’s RCMP has been pushed since 2024 to open a war crimes probe into Hamas and Palestinians in the Gaza war. This has since expanded to include Israeli Canadians.
Why is Canada probing Israeli Canadians for war crimes?
The RCMP confirmed to The Jerusalem Report that it had launched a “structural investigation” into the Israel-Hamas conflict in early 2024 as part of its mandate to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act under Canadian law. However, it stressed that it was a “structural investigation” based only on a preliminary “intelligence-led process aimed at gathering and preserving evidence from open sources and voluntary submissions.” It also stressed that the information, whether against Israelis or Palestinians with a link to Canada, could lead to future criminal investigations.
“Should a perpetrator of core international crimes – such as genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity – with the appropriate nexus to Canada be identified, the RCMP will initiate a separate criminal investigation. To date, the RCMP has not initiated any related criminal investigations.” the RCMP stated on June 4.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada's federal police (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Vivian Bercovici, Canadian ambassador to Israel from 2014 to 2016, sees more than mere symbolism in the RCMP investigation – in terms of the selection of Israelis in particular to be subjects of a war crimes probe, and the message it sends regarding Canada’s position on the Gaza war.
“The fact that the RCMP has clearly decided that dual Canadian-Israelis who served in the IDF may have committed war crimes is concerning,” she says. “My question is this… We have many men who were members of ISIS who were repatriated to Canada, and it is well known that there are many former IRGC officials living in Canada. There are many dual Canadians who have fought in wars and military conflicts. There are many people from Afghanistan. It really strikes me that, to our knowledge, this is the first time the RCMP has chosen to undertake an investigation of this kind, targeting Israelis – and that is very significant.”
She believes that the revelation of the investigation also sends a political message. “The fact that they have chosen to make this public is interesting. They are sending a message in terms of Canada’s stance on war crimes in the Gaza war. It is not a position that bodes well for anyone who serves in the IDF,” she was quoted as saying.
Avi Benlolo, CEO of the prominent Canadian think-tank Abraham Global Peace Initiative headquartered in Toronto, believes that the investigation is an outgrowth of an internal climate, a “negative trend” hostile to Israel.
“There are many anti-Israel groups here in Canada lobbying our government…My contention is that they lobbied the RCMP to look at various things that are happening in Gaza and, unfortunately, part of that is that the government here, from Trudeau and now under Carney, has not been a friend of Israel – at least in actions and policies and various statements.”
He mentions several statements and “symbolic” events, such as Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand condemning Israel for “weaponizing food” on May 14; and Canada’s latest vote at the United Nations General Assembly on June 12, supporting a resolution that does not mention Hamas. It was a stance that was significant enough to result in condemnation from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The statements are more than merely symbolic but are an indication of them coming down on Israel in terms of their foreign policy. The antisemitism, extremism here has been skyrocketing, with the Jewish community on extreme edge. Even with the occasional positive statement, we don’t feel there has been enough substance or action.”
However, Benlolo does see a note of optimism, especially if Israeli and Canadian interests align on the Iran war. “It’s very possible that after the war with Iran and with a victorious Israel, Israel may completely disregard Canada as insignificant. This may cause him [PM Carney] to change his tune.”
Following the onset of the investigation, there have been attempts by the RCMP and Canadian authorities to change the tone. Global Affairs Canada refused to comment on policy implications of the investigation. Canada’s federal police noted for the public to “refrain from drawing premature conclusions about the RCMP’s role” and that the investigation “does not target a specific community or group.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Hamas on June 5, stating: “The government is… working with our allies to promote long-term peace and security in the Middle East – including calling for Hamas to lay down its arms, release all remaining hostages immediately, and have no role in the future of a Palestinian state.”
Following the launch of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion targeting Iran, Carney reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, while calling for maximum restraint. He later signed onto a G7 statement “supporting the security of Israel.”■
