Data obtained by an Israeli non-governmental organization shows that tens of thousands of soldiers serving in the Israeli military hold citizenship from other countries, including the United States and several European nations. The information has emerged as international human rights groups pursue legal action in various countries against some dual nationals serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), citing alleged war crimes in the conflict that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
The data was acquired by the Israeli NGO Hatzlacha through a freedom of information request. According to the documents, which were shared with news outlets by Hatzlacha’s legal counsel, Elad Man, more than 50,000 service members in the IDF hold at least one other citizenship.
The figures indicate that soldiers with U.S. passports represent the largest group, with 12,135 individuals. Following the U.S., the countries with the most nationals serving in the IDF were France (6,127), Russia (5,067), Ukraine (3,901), Germany (1,668), and the United Kingdom (1,686). The data also listed 589 soldiers with South African citizenship, the country that filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging violations of the Genocide Convention.
These dual-national soldiers are part of Israel’s estimated 169,000 active personnel and 465,000 reservists.
The presence of foreign nationals in the conflict has led to legal challenges in their home countries. Several human rights organizations have begun filing complaints against their citizens who are serving with the IDF.
In April 2024, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the U.K.-based Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) submitted a report to London’s Metropolitan Police. The document detailed allegations against 10 British individuals, including murder and attacks on humanitarian personnel. In Germany, a complaint was filed against a 25-year-old German-Israeli soldier for his alleged role in the killings of civilians in Gaza.
Ilias Bantekas, a professor of transnational law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, told Al Jazeera that under international law, dual nationality does not affect criminal liability for war crimes. “Dual nationality is immaterial to criminal liability,” Bantekas stated, noting that the main challenge is a country gaining jurisdiction over an accused individual. He added that dual nationals could also be liable under domestic laws that may restrict military service in foreign conflicts.
Legal proceedings have also been reported in France, Italy, Belgium, and South Africa targeting individuals serving in specific IDF units. According to lawyers involved in the cases, the voluntary nature of service for dual nationals residing abroad—who are exempt from Israel’s mandatory military service law—may be a factor in legal proceedings.
The broader legal context includes the case brought by South Africa to the ICJ in December 2023. In January 2024, the court issued provisional measures ordering Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and allow unimpeded humanitarian aid access.
Organizations such as the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) have initiated campaigns to document and pursue legal action against individuals implicated in alleged war crimes. The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation has also filed complaints, including one reportedly targeting 1,000 Israeli soldiers, after collecting information from social media posts.
