‘I was low-hanging fruit’: IDF reservist targeted by UK legal group sees case collapse in court

An IDF reservist, identified as Soldier A, has expressed relief after a UK court dismissed a case brought against him by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). The legal group had sought to prosecute Soldier A for voluntarily serving in the Israeli military, a move they hoped would set a precedent for holding individuals accountable under Britain's Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870.

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I was low-hanging fruit.

However, Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring ruled the application was "fundamentally misconceived in law." He stated that the Act does not apply to dual nationals, as service in the armed forces of one's other state of nationality is not considered 'foreign enlistment.' The judge further criticized the legal team behind the ICJP's attempt, labeling it "egregious" and legally "inadmissible."

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In line with ICJP’s Global 195 campaign, this is a significant step in holding suspected war criminals accountable within domestic jurisdictions for offenses that they have committed outside of their home countries.

Soldier A, a dual British-Israeli citizen who returned to Israel to join his reserve unit after the October 7th attacks, called the ruling a victory. His legal team, including barristers Peter Wright KC, Natasha Hausdorff, and Dan Berke, successfully argued the case's legal flaws. Berke described the ICJP's attempt as "misconceived in law, misconceived in fact, politically motivated, and vexatious."

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War criminals must be held accountable for their role in the genocide, from the most senior generals to the most junior foot soldier.

The court also ordered the ICJP to pay Soldier A's legal costs. The case was part of the ICJP's 'Global 195 campaign,' aimed at holding suspected war criminals accountable within domestic jurisdictions.

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fundamentally misconceived in law