Charging Canada’s Genocidaires

 

Imagine growing up in a comfortable Toronto or Montréal home and deciding to cross the globe to slaughter a long-colonized people. It’s appalling Canadians are killing Palestinians, but can they be held criminally responsible?

Canada’s legislation on universal jurisdiction is weak but individuals can be pursued for war crimes committed abroad.

Dozens, possibly two hundred, Canadians are currently subjugating Palestinians in the West Bank and slaughtering them in Gaza. Global, National Post, Le Devoir, CBC, La Presse and CP24 have reported Canadians fighting in the IOF. A Canadian Jewish News article quoted the parent of a Genocidaire in Gaza and cited Israel’s consular general in Montreal saying he meets regularly with Canadians in the IOF. According to CBC, 230 Canadians were in the IOF in 2017 while in 2020 the embassy counted 78.

Six weeks ago Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East sent a letter to Justice Minister Arif Virani. It says, “Canada must take action to discourage Canadian involvement in the Israeli military, which carries the risk of complicity in criminal activities, and ensure that any person who is involved in the commission of war crimes is held accountable.” The letter points out that the Department of Justice and RCMP operate a Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, which should be tasked with investigating the Canadian Genocidaires.

In December a French parliamentarian made a similar appeal to the Justice Minister. “It is imperative that France examines the culpability of its nationals involved both in Gaza and the West Bank,” wrote Thomas Portes of La France Insoumise. “I therefore request your intervention, under your general powers of inquiry, for French nationals, including dual nationals, guilty of war crimes to be brought before French justice.”

In a number of other European countries there are efforts to charge their nationals for killing Palestinians.  (more...)

Charging Canada’s Genocidaires

Tell Justice Minister Virani: Investigate Canadians in the Israeli military!