Anti-Israel Campaign Targets Accreditation Of Jewish Overnight Camps In Canada

Ontario Camps Association Calls Effort Discriminatory as Jewish Groups Raise Security Concerns.

By: TheJ.ca Staff | Feb 18, 2026

Campers gather at a Jewish overnight summer camp in Canada. Jewish community leaders and provincial camp associations have warned that coordinated anti-Israel campaigns targeting camp accreditation and visibility risk impacting youth institutions central to Jewish identity and communal life. (Image: TheJ.Ca.) [Resized]

A coalition of anti-Israel organizations is urging provincial camping associations to revoke or reconsider accreditation for at least 17 Jewish overnight summer camps across Canada, a move that Ontario’s main camp accreditor says relies on discriminatory rhetoric and risks undermining the welfare and safety of Jewish children.

The campaign, promoted through coordinated email actions and online letter tools, calls on camping associations in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia to sanction camps that the activists allege have links to Israel or to current or former members of the Israel Defense Forces. Organizers directing supporters to send letters claim the initiative targets camps that “support the State of Israel” and argue accreditation should be withdrawn on that basis.

In a board statement dated Feb. 13, 2026, the Ontario Camps Association said it had become aware of correspondence circulating online about the Middle East conflict and described elements of the rhetoric as “discriminatory and antisemitic in nature.” The association said it understood the correspondence to be part of a “coordinated campaign” aimed at pressuring accrediting bodies to revoke standing for Jewish camps and seek disciplinary action against staff.

The Ontario Camps Association added that it does not adjudicate international geopolitical conflicts or evaluate camps based on religious or cultural identity, emphasizing that its mandate is standards, safety, and accreditation. The board said it would not tolerate “harassment, intimidation, antisemitism, or discrimination.”

Activists Name Camps, Push Letter Campaigns

The activist calls to action are being routed through public letter portals that instruct supporters to contact provincial association boards. One letter campaign urges the Quebec and Nova Scotia camp associations to end accreditation for camps that “hire, host, or support” Israeli military personnel. Another targets Ontario’s association leadership and staff.

A blog post by Just Peace Advocates, one of the groups promoting the effort, claims it has identified 17 overnight camps across multiple provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and others, and argues that ties to Israel should trigger scrutiny.

Quds News Amplification Draws Additional Attention

The campaign has also been amplified on social media by Quds News Network, a Palestinian digital media outlet that has gained significant reach among pro-Palestinian audiences in the Middle East and internationally. Monitoring organizations, including Israeli security analysts and independent research groups, have previously reported that Quds News has published content supportive of Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions. Israeli authorities have identified the outlet as part of a broader ecosystem of media platforms that promote narratives aligned with Hamas positions, although the organization itself presents its work as journalism focused on Palestinian issues.

Recent Quds News posts highlighted activist calls targeting Jewish summer camps in Canada and encouraged wider dissemination of related campaigns. Community security experts say such amplification can expand the visibility of local activist efforts and increase awareness among international audiences.

Analysts who track extremist and militant media note that digital amplification by widely followed regional outlets can elevate localized campaigns into broader geopolitical narratives. They emphasize that monitoring such coverage is an important component of community threat assessment and preparedness.

Jewish Security Groups Emphasize Preparedness

In the Greater Toronto Area, the Jewish Security Network has described its work as including training, risk assessments, and support for institutions and camps. A Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto briefing said the network monitors threats, operates a command-and-control center, and works with law enforcement partners to mitigate risks.

Security guidance for camps has also been developed more broadly in North America through initiatives linking the Secure Community Network and the Foundation for Jewish Camp, which have published camp-focused security resources and planning guidance.

Ontario’s camp accreditor, for its part, said it was engaging community partners with expertise in combating antisemitism as it responds to the campaign and reviews its governance and issues-management protocols.