By Micah Jona, February 17, 2026
Thousands of foreign nationals holding Western passports enlisted in the Israeli military during the war in Gaza, raising fresh legal and diplomatic questions over potential accountability for alleged war crimes.
Data obtained through Israel’s Freedom of Information Law by an Israeli non-governmental organisation indicates that more than 50,000 soldiers in the Israeli military hold at least one additional citizenship. A significant proportion of them possess United States or European passports.
At least 12,135 soldiers reportedly hold US citizenship, while 6,127 are French nationals. Others include 5,067 Russian citizens, 3,901 Ukrainians and 1,668 Germans. The figures reflect enlistment status as of March 2025, about 17 months into the Gaza conflict.
Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after the October 7, 2023 attacks, has resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities. Several international rights groups have alleged that some actions during the conflict may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Legal experts note that dual nationality does not shield individuals from accountability under international law. Professor Ilias Bantekas of Hamad Bin Khalifa University said criminal liability for war crimes applies regardless of nationality, though enforcement depends largely on whether suspects can be brought before courts with jurisdiction.
Countries that are parties to the Rome Statute may fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, which can prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Palestine has been a state party to the ICC since 2015.
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. While a final judgment is pending, the ICJ has issued provisional measures calling on Israel to prevent acts that could constitute genocide and to facilitate humanitarian aid.
Several rights organisations in Europe have already initiated legal complaints against dual nationals accused of participating in alleged abuses. In the United Kingdom, advocacy groups submitted reports to the Metropolitan Police seeking investigations into British citizens who served in Gaza. Similar legal efforts have been launched in Germany, Belgium, France and other jurisdictions.
One Belgium-based advocacy group, the Hind Rajab Foundation, has publicly stated that it is compiling evidence against Israeli soldiers, including dual nationals, with the aim of pursuing prosecutions in domestic courts and at the ICC.
Observers say actual prosecutions may face political and evidentiary hurdles, but growing documentation efforts could increase pressure on national authorities to act where sufficient evidence is presented.
