Indonesia verifies report of citizen allegedly serving in Israeli military
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry is verifying reports that an Indonesian citizen may have served in the Israeli military, following a document cited by Declassified UK listing Indonesia among countries of dual nationals in the IDF.
- Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry is verifying claims that an Indonesian citizen may have served in the Israeli military.
- The allegation stems from a document cited by Declassified UK listing Indonesia among nationalities of dual citizens in the IDF.
- Authorities say no confirmation has been received and further checks will be conducted in line with Indonesian law.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is verifying reports that an Indonesian citizen may have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), following the circulation of documents suggesting that a dual national from Indonesia was among thousands of foreign citizens enlisted in Israel’s military.
The controversy emerged after investigative outlet Declassified UK published findings obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the IDF by Israeli lawyer Elad Man of the NGO Hatzlacha.
The document, dated March 2025 and released publicly on 11 February this year, lists nationalities of individuals holding dual or multiple citizenship who were registered as serving in the Israeli military.
Among the countries listed in Hebrew script is Indonesia, with the document indicating that one Indonesian citizen was serving alongside Israeli forces. No personal details or deployment information were disclosed.
The revelation prompted public debate in Indonesia, where social media users urged authorities to investigate the claim and take action if necessary. The issue gained traction after screenshots of the document circulated widely online, including on the social media platform X, where posts calling for official action attracted thousands of interactions.
Government Response
Responding to the reports, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said Indonesian authorities have yet to confirm the accuracy of the claim.
“Regarding allegations that an Indonesian citizen has joined the Israeli military, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman has not yet received information confirming this,” Mewengkang told local media on Tuesday.
She added that the ministry stands ready to coordinate with Indonesia’s Ministry of Law, which oversees citizenship matters, to verify the information and determine any follow-up measures in accordance with Indonesian law.
Neither the Indonesian Armed Forces nor other government agencies have issued additional statements regarding the matter.
Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently expressed support for Palestinian statehood. Indonesian law generally restricts citizens from serving in foreign armed forces, although enforcement can be complicated in cases involving dual citizenship or individuals residing abroad.
Foreign Nationals in the IDF
The broader dataset cited by Declassified UK indicates that foreign nationals make up a significant portion of IDF personnel through dual or multiple citizenship arrangements.
According to the figures, 43,194 soldiers hold both Israeli citizenship and one additional nationality, while 3,913 soldiers possess Israeli nationality alongside two or more foreign citizenships. In total, more than 47,000 soldiers in the IDF are listed as holding at least one additional citizenship besides Israeli nationality.
The largest contingent originates from the United States, with more than 13,000 dual or multiple citizens linked to the US serving in the Israeli military. France ranks second, followed by Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Romania and Poland.
The data also records recruits from Canada, Latin American countries and several Arab states, as well as small numbers of individuals holding citizenships from nations across Asia and Africa.
British nationals also form a notable segment. Records show that more than 2,000 British citizens — either dual British–Israeli nationals or individuals holding British citizenship alongside additional nationalities — were registered as serving in the IDF as of March 2025.
Regional Context and Indonesian Citizens Abroad
Questions surrounding Indonesian citizens in Israel have surfaced previously during periods of conflict. When fighting escalated between Iran and Israel in mid-2025, Indonesian authorities confirmed that nearly 200 Indonesians were present in Israel at the time, many residing in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Several Indonesians were evacuated through neighbouring Jordan, although officials declined to disclose operational details for security reasons.
Foreign Ministry officials said at the time that some Indonesian citizens chose to remain in Israel despite rising tensions, while authorities continued monitoring their situation.
