An Israeli comedian and former combat soldier faced a six-hour detention and interrogation upon arriving in Canada this week, following formal complaints from pro-Palestinian legal organisations alleging war crimes and incitement to genocide. Guy Hochman was held at Toronto Pearson International Airport before being released after intervention from Israeli consular officials.
Legal Complaint Triggers Airport Detention
The detention occurred after the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgium-based group focused on holding Israeli military personnel accountable for alleged war crimes in Gaza, submitted a comprehensive 40-page dossier to Canadian authorities. The document was supported by Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights and the Legal Centre for Palestine, creating a multi-organisation complaint that prompted border officials to detain Hochman for questioning.
Performance Continues Despite Disruption
Following his release, Hochman's scheduled comedy performance proceeded as planned. In a social media statement, the comedian confirmed the incident, writing: "They tried to stop me from entering Canada, but after 6 hours of delay, I got in. They tried to prevent me from performing in front of the Israeli community, I performed." He described an audience of approximately 400 Israelis attending his show despite protest activity outside the venue.
Allegations of Incitement and War Crimes
The legal complaint presents detailed allegations against Hochman, drawing extensively from social media content he reportedly posted himself. The dossier claims to provide evidence of his participation in the destruction of the Raed al-Attar Mosque in Rafah during September 2024, which the foundation identifies as a religious structure protected under international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, the complaint accuses Hochman of "clear, repeated, and public incitement to genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza. According to the filing, his alleged statements include calls for mass killing and extermination of Palestinians, advocacy for nuclear weapons use against Gaza, celebration of civilian deaths, and demands for starvation, displacement and collective punishment of Palestinian populations. The dossier specifically references his reported statement that "not a single mosque will remain in Gaza."
Foundation Defends Legal Action
Dyab Abou Jahjah, general director of the Hind Rajab Foundation, emphasised that their focus extends beyond comedy performances. "What we are dealing with here is not comedy. It is genocidal propaganda and incitement to violence," he stated. "Moreover, Guy Hochman is not only an inciter; he is also a perpetrator of war crimes who filmed himself while committing them."
Military Connections and International Response
According to the foundation's documentation, Hochman began creating and distributing videos featuring soldiers following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. He was subsequently recruited and deployed to Gaza as an entertainer affiliated with the Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson unit. When questioned about these allegations and their relationship with Hochman, the Israeli military responded that "this is not an IDF matter," without addressing the specific claims in the dossier.
The legal action has now extended to the United States, where the Hind Rajab Foundation filed a similar complaint urging American authorities to investigate and prosecute Hochman ahead of his scheduled New York City performance. Jake Romm, the foundation's US representative, stated: "Every country in the world has an affirmative legal duty to seek out and punish all war criminals and genocidaires within their borders, and the United States is no exception."
Broader Context of Soldier Social Media Posts
This incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing international legal actions targeting Israeli military personnel, coinciding with the Israeli military's attempts to restrict soldiers from posting photos and videos from Gaza. As criminal complaints against soldiers multiply overseas, this detention represents a significant development in how third countries might respond to such allegations involving foreign nationals.
Neither Canadian border officials nor the United States Department of Justice provided immediate comment regarding the complaints or Hochman's detention. The case highlights growing international legal efforts to address alleged war crimes through national legal systems beyond the immediate conflict zones.
