Metropolitan police reopen war crimes probe against four British IDF veterans - report

The Metropolitan Police Service has reportedly reversed its decision to close a war crimes investigation into British nationals who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Declassified UK reported exclusively on Thursday that the police are now conducting a "fresh scoping exercise" regarding four identifiable British nationals.

This development follows a 240-page referral submitted in August 2025 by the Public Interest Law Centre and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The referral alleged that ten UK nationals, including dual citizens, committed war crimes and crimes against humanity while fighting for the IDF in Gaza. The Met initially focused on four individuals before announcing in April 2026 that no criminal investigation would proceed, stating an effective investigation was not possible and there was no realistic prospect of convictions.

The scoping exercises are conducted by the Met’s war crimes team, housed within Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), to determine if a full investigation should be launched. The Jerusalem Post reached out to the Met for confirmation.