London 23rd October 2025– The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has applied for a court summons prosecute a dual national British-Israeli citizen who is alleged to have committed the offence of enlisting in the service of a foreign state contrary to Section 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870. The initial ex parte application hearing is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
The individual is suspected to have served in the Lebanese border unit in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), followed by service in the West Bank. As a British-Israeli, the individual has no legal obligations to serve in the IDF and instead, appears to have done so voluntarily.
ICJP’s submission, which was drafted by senior King’s Counsel, includes evidence of violations of the FEA and expert evidence supporting the breaches. Section 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act (33 & 34 Vict. c. 90) makes it an offence for a British subject to accept any engagement in ‘the military or naval service’ of a foreign state which is at war with a friendly state.
Palestine has been a State Party to the Rome Statute since 1 April 2015, reaffirmed by a decision by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court on 5 February 2021. Palestine is a friendly state to the United Kingdom, as the UK government recognises its statehood, and the two countries are not at war.
All offences under the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 are triable on Indictment and punishable with a maximum of two years imprisonment. There is no time limit to the bringing of proceedings under the Act.
ICJP, acting as a private prosecutor, filed this application for a court summons for the above alleged offence on Monday 20th October 2025.
ICJP’s preliminary investigations indicate that a number of UK nationals may have travelled abroad to fight with the IDF, or provided material support, in potential breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act. These individuals include both British citizens and dual-national British-Israeli citizens.
ICJP’s Head of Legal Mutahir Ahmed:
“In line with ICJP’s Global 195 campaign, this is a significant step in holding suspected war criminals accountable within domestic jurisdictions for offences that they have committed outside of their home countries.
War criminals must be held accountable for their role in the genocide, from the most senior generals to the most junior foot soldier.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- Please contact [email protected] for more information.
