Palestine Justice Group Seeks Court Summons for British Citizens Who Fought for Israel
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians argues that British citizens who fought for the Israeli army violated UK law.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has initiated a legal action to prosecute British citizens who participated in the Israeli military.
According to The Guardian, the human rights group plans to argue in court that these individuals joined a foreign army involved in conflict with Palestine, a state with which the UK is not at war.
The ICJP accuses the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of waging war against Hamas militants and all Palestinians within the Palestinian territories.
The group argues that Section 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870 has been violated by British citizens who enlisted in the IDF.
This law prohibits individuals from accepting or agreeing to serve in a foreign army at war with a state that maintains peace with the UK.
Palestine, recognized as a state by the British government since September 2011, was under British rule for nearly three decades until 1948.
The ICJP has submitted legal papers seeking a summons against one individual but reportedly has evidence on more than 10 other British citizens who have fought for Israel.
The organization has not identified these individuals publicly to avoid prejudicing the case.
To successfully prosecute the defendant, the ICJP must prove that they are a British citizen who accepted a commission in the Israeli armed forces, that Israel was at war with Palestine, and that Palestine is considered a foreign state not involved in conflict with the UK.
The Israeli government does not require its citizens or those living abroad to serve in its military, so any British nationals who fought alongside the IDF would have done so voluntarily.
According to The Guardian, the human rights group plans to argue in court that these individuals joined a foreign army involved in conflict with Palestine, a state with which the UK is not at war.
The ICJP accuses the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of waging war against Hamas militants and all Palestinians within the Palestinian territories.
The group argues that Section 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870 has been violated by British citizens who enlisted in the IDF.
This law prohibits individuals from accepting or agreeing to serve in a foreign army at war with a state that maintains peace with the UK.
Palestine, recognized as a state by the British government since September 2011, was under British rule for nearly three decades until 1948.
The ICJP has submitted legal papers seeking a summons against one individual but reportedly has evidence on more than 10 other British citizens who have fought for Israel.
The organization has not identified these individuals publicly to avoid prejudicing the case.
To successfully prosecute the defendant, the ICJP must prove that they are a British citizen who accepted a commission in the Israeli armed forces, that Israel was at war with Palestine, and that Palestine is considered a foreign state not involved in conflict with the UK.
The Israeli government does not require its citizens or those living abroad to serve in its military, so any British nationals who fought alongside the IDF would have done so voluntarily.
