According to figures from the British investigative journalism and media organisation Declassified UK, more than 400 people that hold Belgian and Israeli citizenship served in the Israeli army during the war in Gaza.
More than 400 people with dual Belgian and Isreali citizenship served with IDF during Gaza war
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Citing a document released by Declassified UK, the dailies, ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ and ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’ report that 471 Belgian Israelis were members of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in March 2025. The Francophone daily ‘Le Soir’ puts the figure at at least 406.
The document does not specify whether those concerned were deployed in the Gaza Strip or elsewhere. It is also unclear how many were soldiers on active service and how many were reservists.
The Belgian Foreign Ministry has told VRT News that it is aware that Belgian nationals have served in the Israeli army but does not keep official figures. Belgium does not prohibit dual nationals from serving in the army of a foreign country. However, individuals could face a criminal investigation if there are indications of involvement in suspected war crimes. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has said that investigations will be opened as and when appropriate.
Many soldiers in the Israeli army are dual nationals. In March 2025, more than 50,000 IDF soldiers reportedly held at least one additional nationality. The largest groups of dual nationals came from the US (13,342), France (6,464), Russia (5,169) and Germany (4,193).
The news is likely to add to ongoing political debate in Belgium over the Gaza war and the legal responsibilities of dual nationals involved in foreign conflicts.