Zack Polanski denies intimidating British Jews with his demand that the Government track those who fought for Israel in Gaza over 'war crimes'

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 15:26, 10 July 2026 | Updated: 15:26, 10 July 2026 Zack Polanski today dismissed claims that his demand for the Government to track UK citizens who fought for Israel is 'intimidating' British Jews. The Green Party leader is among campaigners to have signed an open letter calling for the 'monitoring' of British-Israeli nationals who have served in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). It is estimated there are more than 2,000 Britons with dual citizenship who have served for the IDF since the Hamas terror attacks on Israel in October 2023. Mr Polanski and the other signatories to the letter - which was sent to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper - want the Government to keep tabs on those British-Israeli citizens on their return to the UK. They have also suggested those who served in the IDF and are now in Britain should be investigated for 'potential links to war crimes'. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which advocates for Jewish people in the UK, has condemned the demand as 'another attempt to demonise Israelis and promote an atmosphere of intimidation against British Jews'. But Mr Polanski has pushed back at the criticism as he said it was 'obvious' that 'war crimes' were being committed by Israel in Gaza. 'I'd say the Board of Deputies are being incredibly irresponsible there, and I say that as a Jewish person,' the Green leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Zack Polanski dismissed claims that his demand for the Government to track UK citizens who fought for Israel is 'intimidating' British Jews Mr Polanksi added: 'When we conflate criticism of the Israeli government with being Jewish, that makes me, as a Jewish person, feel less safe. These are two completely different conversations.' The self-described 'eco-populist', who was elected as Green leader in September last year, was pressed on whether he stood by his controversial demand for the Government to track the movements of British citizens who recently served in the IDF. He replied: 'I think what's much more controversial is the fact there's been an ongoing genocide in Gaza for years now that human rights organisations - Amnesty International and the United Nations - have recognised as such. 'And we have British citizens who could be going to that country, engaging in a genocide, and then coming back. 'As with any British citizen who goes to engage in a foreign war, I think it's important that our Government knows who they are when they come back.' The open letter sent to Ms Mahmood and Ms Cooper was also signed by veteran MPs Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott, who are all former Labour frontbenchers. It was also signed by ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who has since co-founded new Left-wing movement Your Party together with Mr Corbyn. The letter stated: 'The UK Government's failure to collect data on the movements of potential Israeli war criminals raises serious concerns. 'Individuals who have returned from fighting in Gaza may now be living alongside us and working in public institutions such as hospitals, the police, and schools. 'Nobody wants to live next to a potential war criminal – not least members of the Palestinian community in the UK who have family or friends who have been subjected to war crimes.' A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: 'This petition seems to be another attempt to demonise Israelis and promote an atmosphere of intimidation against British Jews. 'The call of those who have signed it, including Zack Polanski, to treat people as potential criminals just because of their passport is a unique and wholly unacceptable form of discrimination.' Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative chairman, has previously called for Mr Polanski to withdraw his name from the letter, saying: 'At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, Zack Polanski should not be stoking further division and hostility in our society.'