Ex-MP Amrin Amin raises alarm that S'poreans may have served in Israel military during Gaza conflict

Amrin Amin, a former Member of Parliament (MP) from the People's Action Party (PAP), expressed concern about an Al Jazeera report suggesting that at least one Singaporean was part of the Israeli military amid the conflict in Gaza.

They were included in a list of over 50,000 soldiers in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), who purportedly hold at least one other citizenship, as of March 2025.

That was 17 months into Israel's military offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

Al Jazeera said that the Israeli military shared such data for the first time, and it was obtained through an Israeli non-governmental organisation (NGO), Hatzlacha, through Israel’s Freedom of Information Law.

An Israeli lawyer representing Hatzlacha shared the data with the Qatar-based news network, who released the report on Feb. 15.

Neither Al Jazeera nor Israel has specified what kind of role these soldiers served in the military.

Multiple citizenship

According to the data, which names 126 countries, at least one soldier enlisted in the Israeli military as of March 2025 held both Singaporean and Israeli citizenships.

Soldiers holding multiple citizenships are counted more than once in the following breakdown.

On Feb. 18, Amrin posted about the report on Facebook and called for clarification from the authorities.

The former Senior Parliamentary Secretary highlighted that by law, Singapore citizens and permanent residents cannot serve in a foreign armed force without proper authorisation.

"The government has also made clear that Singaporeans should not take up arms in other people’s wars," Amrin wrote. "And there’s also the dual nationality point that Singapore generally does not allow."

He added that he was confident that the Singapore authorities will handle this information thoroughly and fairly.

Singapore does not recognise dual nationality for citizens aged 21 and above.

Singaporeans found to have obtained foreign citizenship may be deprived of their Singapore citizenship, according to a 2024 parliamentary reply.

MHA's response

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it is aware of Al Jazeera's report.

It added that the MHA does not have any substantiated information at this point that any Singaporean is or was serving in the IDF.

Other foreign nationals

About 169,000 active personnel and 465,000 reservists currently make up the Israeli military, according to Al Jazeera.

Eight per cent of these soldiers allegedly hold more than one citizenship.

As of March 2025, most of them held either the United States or European passports.

U.S. citizens topped the list — at least 12,135 soldiers reportedly were dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, and 1,207 reportedly hold passports from other countries in addition to U.S. and Israel.

France ranked second with 6,127 dual nationals, followed by Russia with 5,067.

Top images from Israeli Defence Forces' Facebook and Amrin Amin's Facebook