Turkey Develops System to Sue IDF Soldiers for War Crimes

Turkey has established a system to track Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, aiming to file lawsuits against them for alleged war crimes. According to a report from Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism on Wednesday, September 2, the system involves researching social media accounts, identifying soldiers' former military units, and investigating their family ties. The collected information is then submitted to Turkish courts.

The ministry highlighted that entities linked to terrorist organizations are behind this surveillance campaign, alongside a general rise in antisemitic and anti-Israeli sentiment in Turkey. Two key organizations involved are the international Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS) and Turkey's Freedom Watch Platform (Özgürlük Nöbeti Platformu). These groups gather open-source information on Israelis, work to delegitimize Israel internationally and within Turkey, and prepare legal cases against IDF veterans.

WOLAS specifically targets Israeli soldiers with Turkish citizenship, using social media to find and contact them. They analyze photos and videos to confirm military service and unit affiliation. This data is then publicized and handed over to lawyers for lawsuit preparation. An example cited is a demobilized female soldier with dual Israeli-Turkish citizenship, identified from a photo posted by her mother years prior. Her personal details were widely circulated in Turkey in February 2026.

The Freedom Watch Platform, founded by pro-Palestinian activists, joined the effort more recently. Initially focused on delegitimizing Israel and promoting boycotts, it shifted to individual surveillance of Israelis. In February 2026, the Turkish parliament discussed prosecuting Turkish citizens who served in the IDF, and the first lawsuit was filed on March 7.

This intensified social media monitoring followed the release of official Israeli data on foreign nationals serving in the IDF. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs stated that these legal efforts align with the anti-Israeli policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. "Under the authoritarian Islamist regime of Erdogan, Turkey is using all means to harm the State of Israel," said Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism Amichai Chikli. "Israel should sever all ties with this regime and prepare to repel the wave of incitement emanating from Turkish government structures and the education system. Instead of detaining Hamas terrorists, Turkish authorities are pursuing anti-Israeli policy and are ready for direct confrontation with Israel."