Davide Mastracci

2 months ago | readthemaple.com | Davide Mastracci

On February 24, I published Find IDF Soldiers, a database containing profiles of 85 Canadians that have joined the Israeli military at any point in their lives. Several people in the database and/or their family members have since reacted to it online, including by speaking with a variety of news outlets. I’ve compiled these reactions here, sorted by name in alphabetical order. Some of these comments will be added to the Find IDF Soldiers website the next time it is updated.

Feb 27, 2025 | readthemaple.com | Alex Cosh |Davide Mastracci |Emma Paling |Peter McFarlane

In the wake of United States President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to make Canada the “51st state,” a recent Leger poll found that 27 per cent of Canadians view their southern neighbour as an “enemy state.”While a higher share — 30 per cent — view the U.S. as an “ally,” the substantial figure of those willing to use such negative terms to describe the Canadian state’s traditionally closest partner has prompted surprise, as well as disgust from some quarters.

Feb 24, 2025 | readthemaple.com | Davide Mastracci |Alex Cosh |Emma Paling |Peter McFarlane

For the better part of the past century, some Jews in Canada have been travelling to Israel to fight alongside other Jewish Zionists from around the world. Throughout this time, the Israeli military has been credibly accused by and/or before major international bodies of ethnic cleansing, war crimes, apartheid, and now genocide.

Jan 29, 2025 | readthemaple.com | Geordie Dent |Davide Mastracci |Marc Edge |Alex Cosh

In January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released an order effectively stating that some of Israel’s actions in Gaza may amount to genocide. Many others, including Amnesty International, The Lemkin Institute and a United Nations Special Committee, have already concluded that Israel has committed genocide. These findings have not been accepted by Israel or its supporters. Instead, they’ve engaged in genocide denial.

Nov 11, 2024 | readthemaple.com | Davide Mastracci

Israel’s most-recent assault on Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023. Since then, Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians including at least 16,456 children, 135 journalists, nearly 1,000 health workers, 230 United Nations staff members and many others. The campaign has also damaged more than 87 per cent of housing units and schools in Gaza, destroyed 53 per cent of hospitals and turned the rest into only partially functioning units, and internally displaced at least 90 per cent of the population.