IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved new guidelines advising reservists to avoid public identification as IDF soldiers.
Hezy Laing
In December 2025, the IDF issued a formal warning to reservists traveling abroad, citing rising antisemitic incidents and specific cases of Israeli soldiers being detained or questioned in foreign countries.
The directive came from the IDF Operations Directorate after the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, Australia, underscoring the risks faced by uniformed personnel outside Israel.
The warning emphasized that reservists, especially those who had recently served in Gaza or during the Twelve‑Day War against Iran, could be targeted by hostile actors or foreign authorities.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved the guidelines, which advised reservists to avoid public identification as soldiers, refrain from discussing operational details, and exercise caution in Jewish community events abroad.
The announcement followed a surge in antisemitic attacks across Europe, North America, and Australia, with Israeli officials noting that soldiers were increasingly vulnerable to politically motivated harassment.
Three notable incidents illustrate the concern.
In London, October 2025, a reservist from the Golani Brigade was detained at Heathrow Airport after border officials flagged his military background during questioning about his travel to Lebanon earlier that year.
He was released after several hours but reported aggressive interrogation about IDF operations in Gaza.
In Berlin, November 2025, another reservist, serving in the Paratroopers Brigade, was stopped by German police outside a synagogue following a pro‑Palestinian demonstration.
He was questioned about his role in the IDF and held overnight before being released without charges.
A third case occurred in Sydney, December 2025, when a reservist attending a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach was briefly detained by Australian authorities after the deadly shooting attack there.
Investigators questioned him about his military service and potential links to Israeli intelligence before clearing him.
The IDF’s statement stressed that these incidents were not isolated but part of a broader trend of scrutiny and hostility toward Israeli soldiers abroad.
Officials highlighted that tens of thousands of reservists had been mobilized in 2024–2025, many of whom were now traveling overseas after extended combat tours.
The warning was intended to protect them from legal entanglements and personal danger, while reinforcing the message that service members remain symbolic targets even outside Israel’s borders.
