OTTAWA — A parliamentary petition sponsored by New Democratic Party MP and leadership candidate Heather McPherson is calling on the federal government to investigate Canadian citizens and permanent residents who served in the Israel Defense Forces, invoking Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act and the Foreign Enlistment Act.
The petition, registered as e-6783 and addressed to the Minister of Justice, opened for signatures on January 7, 2026, and will remain open until April 7. It asserts that Canadian law provides jurisdiction to prosecute individuals present in Canada for certain international crimes regardless of nationality or where the alleged acts occurred.
The petition argues that “credible evidence of serious violations of international law by the IDF in the Middle East suggests Canadian citizen or resident involvement,” and notes that the RCMP has initiated what it describes as a “structural investigation” into the issue. It further points to Canada’s support for international criminal accountability in other contexts, including Ukraine, as precedent for action.
The Israel Defense Forces have consistently rejected allegations of systematic war crimes, stating that they operate under international law and investigate allegations of misconduct. Israeli officials have said the IDF maintains internal legal oversight mechanisms and disciplinary processes, including the Military Advocate General’s Corps.
McPherson’s petition calls on the government to take six specific steps. These include initiating investigations under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act into Canadians who served in the IDF, cooperating with international courts by sharing findings and providing support, and directing the Canada Border Services Agency to screen returning Canadians for foreign military service.
It also urges Ottawa to investigate the HESEG Foundation, a nonprofit that supports lone soldiers in Israel, for possible violations of Canada’s Foreign Enlistment Act. That law makes it an offence, under certain circumstances, to recruit or induce individuals in Canada to enlist in the armed forces of a foreign state.
The petition further calls for warnings to Canadians that serving or volunteering with the IDF may expose them to criminal liability under Canadian law, and for the creation of a government website to collect testimony from alleged victims or witnesses of war crimes in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, modeled on similar efforts related to Ukraine.
McPherson has not issued a detailed public statement beyond the text of the petition. The NDP has, however, been increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israel’s military operations since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent war. Party statements have emphasized civilian suffering in Gaza and called for accountability mechanisms.
Jewish and pro-Israel organizations have reacted with alarm, warning that the petition risks singling out Israel and Canadians with ties to Israel in a manner they view as discriminatory.
“This petition effectively treats service in the IDF as presumptively criminal,” said a spokesperson for a national Jewish advocacy organization, referring to public commentary issued by the group. “That is deeply troubling, particularly given that Israel is a democratic ally facing an internationally designated terrorist organization.”
Legal experts note that the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act sets a high evidentiary threshold. Prosecutions require proof of individual criminal responsibility for specific acts, not mere association with a military force. Canada has historically used the act sparingly, most often in cases involving genocide and crimes committed decades earlier.
Similarly, the Foreign Enlistment Act has rarely been enforced, and its application to service in the armed forces of a close Canadian ally has not been tested in court. Successive Canadian governments have acknowledged that Canadians have served in foreign militaries, including the IDF and the armed forces of the United States and other allied states, without facing prosecution.
The petition’s reference to screening returning Canadians has also raised civil liberties concerns. Legal scholars have cautioned that blanket screening based on nationality or military service could conflict with Charter protections unless tied to specific, individualized suspicion.
Supporters of the petition argue that Canada must apply international law consistently. They point to Ottawa’s support for investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine as evidence that political considerations should not shield any state or military from scrutiny.
Critics counter that the comparison is flawed, noting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been widely condemned as unlawful, while Israel’s actions are framed by Israeli officials as self-defense following Hamas attacks that killed civilians and included hostage taking.
As the petition gathers signatures, it is likely to deepen debate within Canada over Israel, international law, and the boundaries between accountability and antisemitism. For Jewish and Zionist communities, the initiative has reinforced concerns that legal mechanisms are being used to target Israel and those connected to it, rather than to pursue impartial justice.
Whether the government acts on the petition remains uncertain. Parliamentary petitions do not compel action, but they do require a formal government response, setting the stage for further political and legal scrutiny in the months ahead.
