Canada is complicit in Israel’s genocide in Palestine.
It always has been an active participant in the colonization of Palestine; and since October 2023 it has recommitted itself to supporting the Zionist State. This is not a surprise when considering Canada’s own existence as a settler colonial state that is committing an ongoing genocide against Indigenous Peoples here on Turtle Island. Canada is complicit in a myriad of ways. This page is meant to act as a resource and connection point for folks looking for research, advocacy opportunities, and actions. Much of this information is pulled from our analysis of Canada’s “risk of complicity” sent to Senator Woo. You can review the full letter here.
Note: this page will be updated as regularly as possible. If you have information you think should be added, please email us at info@justpeaceadvocates.ca.
Military Support
Canada has continued to support the Israeli military through weapons and strategic support.
Canada permitted record exports of military equipment, including arms, to Israel in October to December 2023 and continued exporting arms to Israel through 2025. Between October and December 2023, Canada approved $28.5 million worth of military exports to Israel.1 This is more than the total approved military exports in either 2022 ($21.3 million) or 2021 ($27.8 million). On March 19, 2024, then Foreign Affairs Minister Joly announced Canada would “suspend” the approval of future applications for the export of arms to Israel, but all existing export permits remained valid.2
However, on July 29, 2025, grassroots organizations, through the Arms Embargo Now campaign, released a report documenting ongoing shipments of military goods from Canada to Israel. Further, Canada continues to export military equipment parts to the US, even when their ultimate destination is Israel.
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Canada also continued to cooperate with Israel militarily under the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership while Israel was bombarding Gaza. The Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) shows that Israel benefits from various measures, including military-to-military working groups, joint training opportunities, and research and development. Canada has also sent Canadian troops to Israel since October 2023.1
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The Government of Canada also continues to allow the recruitment of volunteers into the Israeli military, in contravention of the Foreign Enlistment Act. In 2017, there were an estimated 230 Canadians serving in Israel’s armed forces.1 In 2020, there were approximately 78 Canadians actively enlisted in the Israeli military.2 In October 2020, JPA, CFPI, and PAJU submitted a formal letter to Foreign Minister David Lametti calling for an investigation into and end of recruiting Canadians for Israel’s military.3 The RCMP confirmed to The Canadian Jewish News in June 2023 that no charges arose from the investigation, and the case was closed.4
Canadians are also recruited for “non-combat assignments” in Israel. Sar-El Canada is a “volunteer IDF program” that currently (as of July 29, 2025) offers a “wartime volunteering” opportunity.5 Sar-El Canada volunteers essentially act as a unit of Israel’s military. They undergo military security clearances, live on military bases, and wear military uniforms. They are responsible for supporting active-duty Israeli soldiers and reservists with logistical tasks such as cleaning tanks and gas mask refurbishment, as well as tasks such as cleaning / maintaining firearms and examining the quality of ammunition. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada terminated a private criminal prosecution against Sar-El Canada, despite a criminal charge being laid after a Justice of the Peace found sufficient evidence to for process to issue.6
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Investments
Canada has continued its economic relationship with Israel.
It has failed to “cease all financial, trade, investment and economic relations with Israel that maintain the unlawful occupation or contribute to maintaining it.”
Federal, provincial, and public pension plans hold significant investments in companies complicit in Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide. For instance, both the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) are implicated. As of March 31, 2025, CPPIB had investments in 29 companies which provide arms and/or other support to the Israeli military. The total dollar value of investments in these 29 companies is $18,836,400.1 This list of companies includes BRP Inc., a Quebec-based company that provides the Israeli military with its Can-Am Maverick ATVs which have been used in Gaza since October 2023.2 As of December 31, 2024, CDPQ had investments in 47 companies providing arms and/or other support to the Israeli military. The total dollar value of investments in these 47 companies is $15,618,800.3
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Canadian post-secondary institutions are complicit in a variety of ways, including through their investments. For instance, multiple Canadian universities also held investments in WSP,1 including Vancouver Island University, Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University, Acadia University, and Memorial University, as of 2024.2
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In a detailed analysis of the “Big 5” Canadian banks Quarter 1 (Q1) SEC filings, we identified more than $132 BILLION USD of investments in 66 companies implicated in illegal activities in occupied Palestine. This is the equivalent of approximately $183 billion CAD.1 Because this analysis is based on US SEC filings, this only represents a subset of potentially problematic holdings. Canadian insurance companies are also implicated – an initial analysis showed that Intact Insurance had over 139 million of complicit investments, while Manulife had over $10 billion invested in complicit companies.2
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Charities
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows Canadian charities to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to Israel a year, a significant portion of which fuel occupation, apartheid, and genocide.
Canada has been repeatedly made aware of Canadians organizations who are using their charitable status to effectively subsidize the Israeli military by funding the education of Israeli soldiers and the Israeli military complex more broadly (as well as to maintain and expand settlements).1 Although this is contrary to Canada Revenue Agency policy, Canada largely refuses to take enforcement action. For instance, the HESEG Foundation assists non-Israelis in joining the Israeli military.2 Canadian Friends of Sheba Medical Center sends millions of dollars annually to Sheba Medical Center in Israel is and always has been deeply connected to the Israeli military. It is where all injured Israeli soldiers go for rehab.3
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Canadian charities are an integral part of ongoing settlement expansion and annexation in occupied Palestine. Registered Canadian charities like United Israel Appeal of Canada, Inc (UIAC) send funds, not only to regional councils in Israel – against CRA policy – but also directly to illegal settlements. They also fund multiple quasi-governmental Israeli organizations. This includes Keren Hayesod, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the World Zionist Organization. These organizations are not just connected to the Israeli government, they were and are integral building blocks in the creation and sustaining power of the State of Israel.1
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Perhaps surprising to some, Israeli universities are deeply connected to Canadian institutions. This is feasible, in part, because many of these post-secondary institutions in Israel are registered as qualified donees with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means that Israeli universities who are qualified donees can issue official donation tax receipts for gifts they receive from individuals, corporations, and registered charities. In total, we identified upwards of $100 million going to the nine Israeli universities with close ties to the Israeli military. Unfortunately, we could not confirm a concrete amount due to reporting requirements, under reporting by these charities, etc.1
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Healthcare Sector
Canadian healthcare institutions have not only been silent, but have and continue to support the Israeli occupation in material ways
More information coming soon!
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More information coming soon!
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Cultural Institutions
Canadian cultural institutions across sectors continue to legitimize Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide
Sportswashing is the act of using sport to disguise or altogether attempt to hide unethical or illegal actions. Israel uses sportswashing to distract from its occupation, apartheid, and genocide. For example, the Israel Football Association illegally organizes FIFA-sanctioned games in ililegal settlements, fails to manage its affairs independently of the Israeli government and military, provides tangible support to the military, and supports its players who incite genocide and its clubs that are belligerently racist, all in violation of FIFA and UEFA Statutes as well as international law.1 Canada Soccer has failed to comply with its own by-laws by staying silent while Israel commits genocide. However, it’s not isolated to football. The City of Montreal allowed the Israel Premier Tech cycling team to participate in the Grand Prix de Montréal;2 and Halifax / Tennis Canada ensured Canada and Israel could play their Davis Cup Match, despite massive opposition.3
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Artwashing is the act of using the arts to disguise or legitimiae unethical or illegal actions. In Canada, artwashing is seen through sponsorships such as Scotiabank’s Giller Prize1 — now just the Giller Prize after splitting ties with their long-term partner, funding such as donations from the Azrieli Foundation to Toronto Arts Foundation,2 and even direct support from the State of Israel — such as programming sponsorship from Israeli embassy in Ottawa for the Ottawa Jazz Festival.3
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Pinkwashing is a term Palestinian activists adopted “to describe how the Israeli state and its supporters use the language of gay and trans rights to direct international attention away from the oppression of Palestinians…Pinkwashing is the symptom, settler-colonialism is the root sickness.”1 Organizations like Pride Toronto accept sponsors who are investing in companies complicit in Israel’s genocide, while inviting Israeli lobby groups to participate in Pride.2 In Ottawa, Capital Pride took direction from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. He exerted pressure for Capital Pride to drop their Palestine solidarity statement, released in 2024, and pressured them to cancel the parade after Queers for Palestine — Ottawa and Grand Marshall Patience Plush stopped the parade to publicly demand solidarity from Capital Pride and invite other parade-goers to join the movement.3
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Land + Tourism
Canadian corporations, charities, along with the government itself violate international law through land and resource theft.
Real estate events selling land in occupied Palestine occurred across North America during 2024 and 2025, hosted by pro-Israel groups, with involvement from Canadian real estate agents.1 Canadian companies also contribute to the establishment and maintenance of Israel’s presence in occupied Palestine. For example, the Metrontario Group is involved in various development projects in occupied East Jerusalem (and is now listed in the UN Database). WSP Global is the project manager of the Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR) which was built through the West Bank.2
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Canada has continued to provide trade benefits to Israel through the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA). CIFTA violates international law by failing to differentiate between goods and services from outside the Green Line and those from the illegally occupied territories, including the occupied Syrian Golan. Trade in goods and services between the two countries exceeds $2 billion annually.2
Israel’s agricultural industry relies and the dispossession and Palestinian land and the displacement of Palestinian people. Canadian public and private corporations actively contribute to maintaining Israel’s unlawful occupation through the exploitation of agricultural. For instance, despite their obligation to differentiate between settlement and Palestinian products, Canada imports and sells illegal settlement wines as “Product of Israel.” In contrast, Palestinian products are held and rejected if they are labelled as “Products of Palestine.”1 This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface on the theft of natural resources in occupied Palestine and the occupied Syrian Golan.
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The Media
As Fair, a media watchdog, recently reported, Western media manufactured consent for the murder of Palestinian journalists.
HonestReporting Canada (HRC) is a tax-subsidized pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian lobby group with a primary focus on media. Styling itself as “Israel’s sword and shield,” HRC weaponizes its 60,000+ subscribers to “control the narrative” in Canadian media,1 overwhelming newsrooms with complaints of coverage that is critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinian solidarity. HRC’s targeted harassment has cost at least two journalists their jobs,2 and recently placed a Sick Kids doctor on administrative leave.3 HRC also spreads misinformation and racist incitement through Canadian legacy media. In 2023, the charity provided more than $1 million in tax receipts.
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More information coming soon!
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Legal Support Resources
Check out our Legal + tactical Guide, which provides basic information on legal issues that Palestinian rights activists may face, and tips on how to navigate them. It provides some generally applicable information and some campus-specific information for student activists.
Footnotes
Weapons + arms supplies
1 Alex Cosh, “Trudeau Government Authorized $28.5 Million Of New Military Exports To Israel Since October” (10 February 2024), online: The Maple <https://www.readthemaple.com/trudeau-government-authorized-28-million-of-new-military-exports-to-israel-since-october/>.
2 Spencer Colby, “Ottawa to stop sending arms to Israel, minister says” (19 March 2024), online: The Toronto Star <https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/trudeau-government-to-stop-sending-arms-to-israel-once-details-are-worked-out-foreign-affairs/article_da41c41c-e60e-11ee-8cb4-874d0836cd34.html>.
3 Dylan Robertson, “Joly says Canada bars Canadian-made arms from reaching Gaza | CBC News” (10 September 2024), online: CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/melanie-joly-canada-arms-israel-gaza-1.7319112>; Alex Cosh, “Canada Sold $18.9 Million Of Military Goods To Israel, Despite ‘Pause’” (7 June 2025), online: The Maple <https://www.readthemaple.com/canada-sold-18-9-million-of-military-goods-to-israel-despite-pause/>.
4 Peter Zimonjic, “Asked to clarify if he sees genocide in Gaza, Carney says he “didn’t hear that word”” (9 April 2025), online: CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-clarifies-genocide-remarks-1.7506027?ref=readthemaple.com>.
Strategic military support
1 Christian Paas-Lang, “Canadian special forces members on the ground in Israel, DND confirms” (29 October 2023), online: CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-special-forces-members-on-the-ground-in-israel-dnd-confirms-1.7012157>.
Foreign military recruitment
1 Elise von Scheel, ““I don’t see why I shouldn’t have to serve”: Why young, Jewish Canadians are enlisting in the Israeli military”, CBC News (22 February 2019), online: <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/idf-israel-canada-lone-soldiers-1.4670746>.
2 Anna Ahronheim, “Bringing the True North to Canadian lone soldiers in the IDF” (16 January 2020), online: The Jerusalem Post <https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/bringing-the-true-north-to-canadian-lone-soldiers-in-the-idf-614348>.
3 Just Peace Advocates, “No illegal Israeli military recruiting in Canada” (19 October 2020), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/no-illegal-israeli-military-recruiting-in-canada/>; Just Peace Advocates, “Say No To Illegal Military Recruiting in Canada” (9 February 2021), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/say-no-to-illegal-military-recruiting-in-canada/>.
4 Ron Csillag, “RCMP: No charges in case of ‘illegal’ recruiting by IDF in Canada” (12 June 2023), online: The Canadian Jewish News <https://thecjn.ca/news/rcmp-no-charges-in-case-of-illegal-recruiting-by-idf-in-canada/>.
5 “News – Sar-El Canada”, online: <https://sarelcanada.org/sar-el-news/>.
6 R. v. Mivasair, 2025 ONCA 179 (CanLII).
Pension funds
1 Just Peace Advocates, “CPPIB Investments in War Crimes, Genocide, and Apartheid Increase to Over $27 Billion in 2025” (26 May 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/cppib-investments-in-war-crimes-genocide-and-apartheid-increase-to-over-27-billion-in-2025/>.
2 AFSC Investigate, “BRP Inc” (14 April 2025), online: Investigate <https://investigate.afsc.org/company/brp>.
3 Just Peace Advocates & La Coalition du Québec URGENCE Palestine, “Analyse rapport CDPQ 2024: 27,4 milliards de dollars dans 76 entreprises | CDPQ 2024 Report Analysis: $27.4 billion invested in 76 companies” (30 April 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/cdpq-2024-report/>.
Universities
1 Just Peace Advocates, “From Palestine to Kashmir: WSP Global Entrenches Occupation and Apartheid” (6 August 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/new-report-from-palestine-to-kashmir-wsp-global-entrenches-occupation-and-apartheid/>.
2 Just Peace Advocates, “Canadian Universities and Complicity with Occupation” (24 November 2024), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/universities/>.
Banks + insurance companies
1 Just Peace Advocates, “The “Big 5” Canadian Banks Have Over $132 Billion USD Invested in Companies Complicit in Israel’s Occupation, Apartheid, and Genocide” (21 May 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/the-big-5-canadian-banks-have-over-132-billion-usd-invested-in-companies-complicit-in-israels-occupation-apartheid-and-genocide/>.
2 Just Peace Advocates, “Insurance Companies Complicity in War Crimes” (28 November 2024), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/insurance-companies/>.
Military support
1 Miles Howe, “Tracking Financial Complicity in Israeli War Crimes and Genocide: Instances of Aiding and
Abetting in the Canadian Charitable Sector” (2025) 14:1 State Crime, online:
<https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/academic-article-by-dr-miles-howe-tracking-financial-complicity-in-israeli-
war-crimes-and-genocide-instances-of-aiding-and-abetting-in-the-canadian-charitable-sector/>.
2 Just Peace Advocates, “Formal Complaint submitted to CRA: HESEG Foundation & its patron foundation” (10 March 2024), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/formal-complaint-submitted-to-cra-heseg-foundation-its-patron-foundation/>.
3 Just Peace Advocates, “2024 Donations: How Canadian charities funneled money to Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide in 2024” (4 September 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/2024-donations-how-canadian-charities-funneled-money-to-israels-occupation-apartheid-and-genocide-in-2024/>.
Settlement expansion
1 Just Peace Advocates, “How United Israel Appeal of Canada funds Israel’s illegal occupation” (3 October 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/how-united-israel-appeal-of-canada-funds-israels-illegal-occupation/>.
Israeli universities
1 Just Peace Advocates, “Tax Breaks for Genocide: How Canadian charities are funding Israeli universities” (28 July 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/tax-breaks-for-genocide-how-canadian-charities-are-funding-israeli-universities/>.
Sportswashing
1 Just Peace Advocates, “Canada Soccer must take action to comply with its by-laws and international legal obligations” (25 September 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/canada-soccer-must-take-action-to-comply-with-its-by-laws-and-international-legal-obligations/>; Black Alliance for Peace, “IOC and FIFA must ban United States and Israel” (8 August 2025), online: Canadian BDS Coalition & International BDS Allies <https://bdscoalition.ca/2025/08/08/ioc-and-fifa-must-ban-united-states-and-israel/>.
2 Palestinian and Jewish Unity, “Lawyers representing Palestinian and Jewish Unity send letter to the City of Montreal” (7 September 2025), online: PAJU <https://paju.org/lawyers-representing-palestinian-and-jewish-unity-send-letter-to-the-city-of-montreal/>.
3 @noloveforgenocide, Instagram (10 September 2025), online: <https://www.instagram.com/p/DOcIQl2keUZ/?img_index=1>.
Artwashing
1 Nour Abi-Nakhoul “Giller protests sparked a literary movement to end ‘art-washing’ of Israeli crimes”, The Breach (15 November 2024), online: <https://breachmedia.ca/giller-protests-scotiabank-israel-palestine-weapons/>.
2 Hadani Ditmars, “Artists protest at Toronto Arts Foundation gala over funding from Israeli real estate company’s charitable foundation”, The Art Newspaper (27 November 2024), online: <https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/27/toronto-arts-foundation-azrieli-foundation-israel-real-estate>.
3 Canadian BDS Coalition & International BDS Allies, “Ottawa Jazz Festival accepts tainted sponsorship from the Israeli apartheid state” (4 January 2024), online: <https://bdscoalition.ca/2024/01/04/ottawa-jazz-festival-accepts-tainted-sponsorship-from-the-israeli-apartheid-state/>.
Pinkwashing
1 alQaws, “ Beyond Propaganda: Pinkwashing as Colonial Violence” (18 October 2020), online: alQaws <https://www.alqaws.org/articles/Beyond-Propaganda-Pinkwashing-as-Colonial-Violence?category_id=0>.
2 Canadian BDS Coalition & International BDS Allies, “No Pride in Genocide! 2025” (24 June 2025), online: <https://bdscoalition.ca/2025/06/24/no-pride-in-genocide-2025/>.
3 Queers for Palestine – Ottawa (Q4P), “This Village Stands with Palestine: Queers for Palestine Ottawa Statement on Pride 2025” (28 Auguest 2025), online: Community Solidarity Ottawa <https://www.communitysolidarityottawa.ca/stand-with-pride-1>.
Real estate
1 Vanessa Balintec, “Pro-Palestinian supporters decry real estate events at synagogues over allegations occupied land being sold”, CBC News (4 March 2024), online: <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/real-estate-thornhill-event-1.7133251>.
2 Just Peace Advocates, “Canadian Land & Real Estate Business Enterprises Involvement in the possible Commission of International Crimes Connected to Israel’s Unlawful Occupation, Racial Segregation, and Apartheid Regime” (29 November 2025), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/land/>.
Natural resource theft
1 Just Peace Advocates, ““Erasing Palestine” on Taybeh wine & beer, presentation at World Social Forum after CBC article” (7 May 2022), online: Just Peace Advocates <https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/erasing-palestine-on-taybeh-wine-presentation-at-world-social-forum-after-cbc-article/>.
2 Global Affairs Canada, Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) (last modified 24 October 2023), online: <https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/israel/fta-ale/index.aspx?lang=eng>.
HonestReporting Canada
1 Davide Mastracci, “Meet The Billionaire-Funded Pro-Israel Group Influencing Media”, The Maple (29 January 2024), online: <https://www.readthemaple.com/meet-the-billionaire-funded-pro-israel-group-influencing-media/>.
2 Mike Fegelman, “Global News Reporter Claims She Was Fired For Pro-Palestinian Advocacy; She Actually Engaged in Antisemitism”, HonestReporting Canada (29 October 2023), online: <https://honestreporting.ca/global-news-reporter-claims-she-was-fired-for-pro-palestinian-advocacy-she-actually-engaged-in-antisemitism/>.
3 “Sick Kids Doctor On Leave After HRC Exposes Anti-Israel Social Media Post Which Called Israel “Absolute Evil”, HonestReporting Canada (20 November 2023), online: <https://honestreporting.ca/sick-kids-doctor-on-leave-after-hrc-exposes-anti-israel-social-media-post-which-called-israel-absolute-evil/>.
