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60 Officials Demand IDF Service Disclosure for British-Israelis

6/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

An open letter signed by 60 officials, including former General Charlie Herbert, urges Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper to require dual British-Israeli returnees to disclose Israel Defence Forces service.
Freedom-of-information shows at least 1,686 British-Israeli nationals served in the IDF, with over 2,000 Britons serving since 7 October 2023.
The letter notes the UK warns citizens fighting in Ukraine but not those fighting for Israel, citing two £20 million export licences to Israel.

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Story summary

An open letter signed by 60 officials, including former General Charlie Herbert, urges Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper to require dual British-Israeli returnees to disclose Israel Defence Forces service.
Freedom-of-information shows at least 1,686 British-Israeli nationals served in the IDF, with over 2,000 Britons serving since 7 October 2023.
The letter notes the UK warns citizens fighting in Ukraine but not those fighting for Israel, citing two £20 million export licences to Israel.