Leaked Israeli intelligence confirms one of the highest civilian tolls in modern conflicts.

<article data-history-node-id="427398" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uk-declines-share-stance-britons-fighting-israeli-army" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uk-declines-share-stance-britons-fighting-israeli-army" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">UK declines to share stance on Britons fighting for Israeli army</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>British MPs have warned that the government must not allow British nationals to fight in the Israeli military after it emerged that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel&nbsp;</a>is mulling the recruitment of Jewish youths from abroad to fight in its army due to severe manpower shortages.</p> <p>Middle East Eye asked the Home Office and the Foreign Office what the government's stance on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">UK</a>&nbsp;nationals enlisting in the Israeli military is.</p> <p>The Home Office declined to comment and referred MEE to the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office declined to comment and referred MEE to the Home Office.</p> <p>Scottish National Party MP Chris Law told MEE: "The UK government must warn against enlistment and ensure that anyone who ignores these warning and does enlist is subsequently held accountable to international law."</p> <p>Army Radio reported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-army-considering-recruiting-jewish-people-abroad-over-personnel-shortage" target="_blank">this week</a>&nbsp;that the Israeli government was looking at a possible campaign to reach out to the diaspora to fill vacancies within the ranks of the military.</p> <p>The broadcaster said the military was currently struggling with a shortfall of 10,000 to 12,000 troops, driven largely by the refusal of ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve.</p> <p>Attempts to recruit the conservative minority, who have traditionally enjoyed exemption in return for pursuing religious study, have so far failed to yield results.</p> <h3>Read more: <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-declines-give-stance-british-citizens-fighting-israeli-military">UK declines to share stance on Britons fighting for Israeli army</a></h3> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosts a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance (unseen) at Chevening House in southeast England on 8 August (AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dbd7cd70-b54d-42a4-9e98-46df0f6a6f7f" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/images-story/000_69479u2%20%281%29.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosts a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance (unseen) at Chevening House in southeast England on 8 August (AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosts a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance (unseen) at Chevening House in southeast England on 8 August (AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;) rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>

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