Key Takeaways
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) Canada, together with Just Peace Advocates, has asked the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to bar representatives of Israeli defence firms Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries from attending CANSEC 2026 in Ottawa.
- The request invokes Section 35(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), alleging that the companies are complicit in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
- ICJP’s submission cites findings from the International Court of Justice, UN experts, and human‑rights organisations, as well as statements by senior Israeli officials that legal scholars interpret as evidencing genocidal intent.
- Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries are identified as major suppliers of drones, weapons systems, surveillance gear, and other military technologies used by the Israeli Defence Forces during the Gaza campaign.
- Allowing these representatives entry could undermine Canada’s domestic and international legal obligations, particularly under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.
- ICJP stresses that accountability for international crimes must extend to corporate actors who allegedly enable or facilitate such violations.
Background of the Request
On 21 May 2026, ICJP Canada, in partnership with Just Peace Advocates, formally submitted a legal request to the Canada Border Services Agency seeking to deny entry to representatives of Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries who wish to attend CANSEC 2026, Canada’s premier defence and security exhibition held in Ottawa. The organisations argue that the presence of these corporate delegates would contravene Canada’s immigration statutes and its commitments under international humanitarian law. The request reflects a growing trend of civil‑society groups using domestic legal mechanisms to address alleged complicity of foreign corporations in overseas conflicts.
Legal Basis under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
The core of ICJP’s argument rests on Section 35(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which permits the exclusion of foreign nationals if there are reasonable grounds to believe they are inadmissible due to security concerns, human‑rights violations, or involvement in organized crime. ICJP contends that representatives of the two Israeli arms manufacturers fall within this provision because their companies are allegedly complicit in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. By invoking IRPA, the submission seeks to leverage Canada’s sovereign authority to protect its borders from individuals linked to serious international crimes.
Evidence of International Law Violations in Gaza
To substantiate the claim of complicity, the submission compiles a wide array of evidence from reputable international bodies. It references the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures concerning Gaza, United Nations fact‑finding missions, and reports from human‑rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These documents detail patterns of collective punishment, indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure, mass displacement, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare—acts that, under the Rome Statute and customary international law, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Statements Indicating Genocidal Intent
ICJP highlights remarks made by senior Israeli officials during the conflict, which independent legal experts have interpreted as evidencing genocidal intent toward the Palestinian population in Gaza. Examples include public declarations calling for the “eradication” of Hamas’s infrastructure coupled with language that conflates combatants with civilians, as well as policies that facilitate the forced transfer of populations. While such statements alone do not prove genocide, they are presented as part of a broader contextual framework that supports the allegation of intent required under the Genocide Convention.
Role of Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries
Both firms are described as principal defence contractors supplying the Israeli military with critical technologies employed in the Gaza offensive. Elbit Systems provides unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and precision‑guided munitions, while Israel Aerospace Industries contributes advanced missile systems, aerospace platforms, and surveillance equipment. The submission argues that these products have been directly used in operations that resulted in high civilian casualties, widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and essential services, thereby linking the corporations to the alleged violations.
Potential Undermining of Canada’s Legal Obligations
ICJP warns that permitting the representatives to enter Canada for CANSEC 2026 could contravene the country’s domestic legal framework and its international commitments. Canada is a party to the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and various UN resolutions calling for accountability for violations in Gaza. By facilitating the presence of individuals associated with entities suspected of enabling such violations, Canada risks appearing to condone or indirectly support conduct that breaches its own statutes, including the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, which criminalises participation in or facilitation of those offenses.
Corporate Accountability in International Criminal Law
Beyond the immediate inadmissibility argument, the submission emphasizes a principled stance: accountability for international crimes should not be limited to direct perpetrators but must also encompass corporate actors who allegedly enable or facilitate those crimes. ICJP cites emerging jurisprudence and scholarly opinion that recognize corporate liability under principles of aiding and abetting, or through the doctrine of “corporate complicity,” particularly when companies supply essential means that substantially contribute to the commission of atrocities. Extending liability to corporations aligns with evolving norms in international law aimed at closing impunity gaps.
Implications for CANSEC 2026 and Future Defence Exhibitions
If the CBSA accedes to the request, it would set a precedent for scrutinising the participation of defence firms linked to ongoing conflicts at Canadian trade shows. Such a development could influence how future exhibitions vet exhibitors, prompting organizers to conduct enhanced due‑diligence on the human‑rights records of prospective participants. Conversely, a denial of the request might reinforce concerns that Canada’s immigration and export‑control mechanisms are insufficiently responsive to allegations of corporate involvement in international crimes, potentially spurring further advocacy or legislative review.
Conclusion and Call to Action
In sum, ICJP Canada’s submission seeks to prevent the entry of representatives from Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries to CANSEC 2026 by asserting that their presence would violate Section 35(1) of IRPA and contravene Canada’s obligations under international humanitarian law. The request is grounded in a detailed compilation of evidence concerning alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocidal acts in Gaza, coupled with an analysis of the corporations’ roles in supplying the means used in those acts. By framing the issue as one of corporate accountability, the organisations aim to reinforce the principle that legal responsibility for atrocities extends to those who facilitate them, urging Canadian authorities to uphold their domestic and international legal standards.