February 17, 2026 | 11:06 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to reports that an Indonesian citizen may have joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“Regarding the alleged presence of an Indonesian citizen in the Israeli army, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman has not been able to confirm this information,” said Yvonne Mewengkang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
She added that the Ministry is ready to coordinate with the Ministry of Law, the authorized body on citizenship matters, “to verify this information and take appropriate action in accordance with prevailing regulations.”
The reports first surfaced on social media, including an X (formerly Twitter) account, @erlani*****, which posted on Sunday, February 15, 2026:
"Dear @Kemlu_RI. Based on IDF records, there is one Indonesian citizen who has become a Zionist soldier. Please investigate the identity of this individual and revoke their citizenship as they have become an occupying soldier!"
The post received over 7,000 likes and was shared more than 2,000 times. It included a screenshot of a document in Hebrew, which Tempo traced to Declassified, an investigative platform.
The document was obtained via a Freedom of Information request submitted to the IDF by attorney Elad Man from the Hatzlacha NGO.
According to Declassified, the data lists individuals with dual or multiple citizenships serving in the IDF as of March 2025. It shows 1,686 British-Israeli citizens and 383 individuals holding British, Israeli, and other nationalities.
More broadly, over 50,000 IDF soldiers hold Israeli citizenship alongside at least one other nationality, with the largest groups coming from the United States, Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany.
Read: Why Civil Groups Are Pushing Indonesia Out of the Board of Peace
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google New
EU Calls on Israel to Halt Registration of West Bank Land
18 menit lalu
Israel approved a proposal to register Palestinian West Bank land as "state property," the first legal move of its kind under Israeli control.
Israel Approves Plan to Register West Bank Lands as 'State Property'
1 hari lalu
Israeli government approved a proposal on Sunday, February 15, 2026, to register large swathes of the occupied West Bank as "state property."
Israel to Limit Al-Aqsa Access During Ramadan
2 hari lalu
Former Grand Mufti Sheikh Ekrima Sabri warns that the Israeli measures disrupt freedom of worship.
Former Israeli PM Admits Long-Standing Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
2 hari lalu
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak admits to having a relationship with businessman Jeffrey Epstein, causing a global uproar.
UK Decision to Ban Palestine Action Unlawful, Court Rules
3 hari lalu
The UK High Court's ruling comes after the pro-Palestinian group's co-founder launched a legal challenge against the ban.
Indonesia's AGO Reviews Findings on Palestine Genocide Probe
4 hari lalu
AGO receives a report on the investigation of alleged genocide and human rights crimes by Israel against Palestine. The report will be reviewed.
Trump, Netanyahu End Meeting Without Iran Agreement
4 hari lalu
Israeli PM Netanyahu hopes any nuclear deal will not just focus on curbing Iran's nuclear potential but also its ballistic missile program.
Israel Officially Joins Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza Resolution
4 hari lalu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially signed the Board of Peace charter in Washington.
Venezuela Sends First Oil Shipment to Israel in Years
5 hari lalu
The shipment marks a renewal of contact between the Venezuelan and Israeli governments.
Al Jazeera Probe: Israeli Bombings Caused 2,842 Palestinians to 'Evaporate'
5 hari lalu
Al Jazeera documents 2,842 Palestinians in Gaza as "evaporated" due to Israeli thermal and thermobaric weapons.
