Western Nationals Involved in Israeli-Gaza Conflict Raises Concerns

Here is a rewritten version of the article in a neutral newsroom style:

Thousands of Western nationals have joined the Israeli military since October 2023, amid its ongoing conflict with Gaza. According to data obtained by an Israeli NGO through Israel’s Freedom of Information Law, at least 50,000 soldiers in the Israeli military hold citizenship from another country, with US and European passports being the most common.

The data shows that 12,135 soldiers hold United States passports, followed by 6,127 French nationals. Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Britain, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico also have a significant number of citizens serving in the Israeli military.

The Israeli military has confirmed that soldiers holding multiple citizenships are counted more than once in the breakdown. The data covers service members as of March 2025, during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza.

International law experts say that war crimes can incur criminal liability under international law, regardless of an individual’s nationality. However, prosecuting foreign nationals who have committed alleged war crimes poses a challenge.

The Israeli military has shared the data for the first time, providing insight into the number of Western nationals serving in its ranks. The data raises questions about international legal accountability for foreign nationals implicated in alleged war crimes against Palestinians.

Source: Al Jazeera