The Hebrew newspaper confirmed in a report published on Sunday that Canadian police announced in June 2024 the launch of an official investigation into what it described as "the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas," noting that the investigation aims to uncover potential international crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
The newspaper linked the investigation to a website run by a Canadian journalist, which published the names of Israeli soldiers with dual citizenship accused of participating in operations amounting to genocide in the Gaza Strip. The newspaper quoted one of these soldiers as saying they were afraid and anxious about traveling to Canada for fear of arrest, adding, "We don't know if it's safe to travel or not."
The ongoing investigation marks a first in Canadian history. The Hebrew newspaper explained that Canadian authorities have never before opened a similar investigation against Israel, despite previously pursuing Canadian citizens implicated in war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
In an official statement, the Canadian police explained that the investigation began in early 2024 and is part of a broad intelligence operation aimed at gathering and assessing information related to potential crimes subject to Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. They emphasized that the investigation is not criminal at its current stage and does not target a specific group, but rather aims to pave the way for potential future action should the legal basis for it become available.
The police announced their readiness to launch an electronic portal in the coming period, available in several languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, to receive witness statements and related information in a safe and organized manner.
This investigation is part of a series of legal actions in several European and Latin American countries. The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed dozens of complaints against Israeli soldiers accused of committing war crimes in Gaza.
In March, the International Center for Justice for Palestinians launched the Global 195 initiative, which aims to prosecute Israeli officials involved in these crimes.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a war of genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide, backed by the United States, left approximately 200,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, and a famine that claimed the lives of many.
