UK Court Dismisses Case Against Israeli Reservist, Orders Pro-Palestinian Group to Pay Costs
A pro-Palestinian organization in the UK failed in its legal attempt to detain a British-Israeli IDF reservist and was ordered to pay his full legal expenses. The case, brought by the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), claimed the reservist violated Britain's 1870 Foreign Enlistment Act by returning to Israel to rejoin his unit after the October 7 Hamas attacks. The reservist, referred to as "Soldier A," holds dual British and Israeli citizenship and had been temporarily in England before returning to Israel.
About three months ago, Justice Goldspring of the UK High Court rejected the ICJP's request, ruling it an abuse of legal process and filed without the plaintiff's duty of candor. Last week, a final judgment mandated the ICJP to cover the reservist's legal costs amounting to £82,130 (approximately 336,425 NIS), a sum deemed reasonable given the case's complexity. The court also required the ICJP to attach full copies of this costs ruling and the substantive April 8, 2026 judgment to any future filings in England and Wales.
The judge warned the ICJP that failure to comply would be considered a further breach of disclosure obligations, potentially triggering closer scrutiny of their litigation tactics. The UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) praised the reservist's legal team, including Daniel Berka, Natasha Hausdorff, and Peter Wright KC, emphasizing the importance of confronting legal challenges aimed at harming Israel. A UKLFI spokesperson stated, "When we explain to the court what our opponents are really trying to achieve, we win. We must not be defeatist. We must show up, fight, and defeat cases like this."
The case highlights ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with pro-Palestinian groups using UK courts to challenge Israeli military personnel. The reservist's successful defense and the court's strong rebuke of the ICJP's tactics may deter similar future actions.
