Lithuania has issued permits for citizens to serve in Israel’s military

Lithuania’s Ministry of the Interior has issued six permits for Lithuanian citizens to serve in the Israel Defense Forces since the start of the war in Gaza, with media reports suggesting nearly 300 Lithuanians may be serving in total, LRT.lt reports.

The ministry stated there were no legal obstacles to granting these permits. Lithuanian law prohibits citizens from serving in foreign militaries without special government approval, with the risk of losing citizenship if they do so without permission. Such requests are rare and typically come from dual nationals.

This year alone, Lithuania has approved 21 requests for citizens to serve in foreign militaries, five of which were for service in Israel. An additional permit was issued in 2024. Before the Gaza war, only one such permit had ever been granted.

All approved individuals hold dual citizenship, and no new applications are currently pending, according to the ministry.

While the exact number of foreigners serving in Israel’s military is unclear, Al-Jazeera reports up to 50,000, with several hundred foreign volunteers. Many dual nationals come from the US, Europe, and Russia. Al-Jazeera’s spring data indicated around 300 Lithuanians may be serving in Israel’s forces.

Such individuals have faced criticism from human rights groups, accused of potential legal violations—such as fighting against a state with which their other nationality is not at war—and alleged war crimes in Gaza. Activists have called for greater transparency regarding their roles and deployments.

The ministry declined to comment on whether potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel’s military are considered when approving permits. It emphasised that decisions to join foreign militaries are voluntary.

“It is important to note that the decision to serve in another country’s military is a free choice of the individual. The state does not encourage or discourage citizens from choosing service in foreign armed forces—decisions are made solely on issuing permits as provided by law, assessing whether there are legal, national security, or other significant obstacles,” the ministry told LRT.lt.

When a Lithuanian citizen applies to serve abroad, the ministry consults with the Police Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the State Social Insurance Fund Board, and the State Security Department.

“In reviewing the requests received so far for service in the Israel Defense Forces, none of the competent institutions have objected to issuing the permits,” the ministry stated.