Joint kinetic operation - USA & Israel
Legal Justification for Preemptive Self-Defense: The February 28, 2026, Joint Operation
This position paper examines the February 28, 2026, joint kinetic operation conducted by Israel and the United States. It sets out the legal case for treating the operation as a lawful exercise of preemptive self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to an imminent threat posed by Iran. Grounded in the Caroline test, ICJ jurisprudence, and relevant principles of international law, the paper argues that the operation was a measure of last resort, not an act of aggression
Never Again: The Hostages and Postwar Norms
Gasps echoed through the aisles as the plane touched down in Tel Aviv, and passengers opened their phones for the first time in 12 hours. A man in front of me prayed. The first of the last twenty hostages had been freed! As we stood to exit the plane, all words were of the good news. You didn’t need to know Hebrew, French, or English to hear the exuberant joy and disbelieving relief in the voices.
Waiting for passport control, travelers stood in incredulous awe before the ubiquitous posters of hostages. In front of me in line, an African American tourist turned back to say, “I just feel Israeli today! Who wouldn’t, with a mood like this?” There were no taxis available as the visit by President Trump had shut the highway, but no one seemed to mind. I stopped to buy a train ticket, but an attendant batted me away. “No tickets today! No one should need tickets today!” He lifted the gate and waved me through.
Exiting the train in Tel Aviv, I was surrounded by people singing and dancing in the streets. The skyscrapers were covered in messages of thanksgiving. Hamas had, in their usual cruelty, stretched out the release of the hostages over the whole day, which meant that with each passing moment, there was new good news. Pushed along by the great crowd, I walked towards Hostage Square.
For the last two years, the question of the hostages– the two hundred and fifty-one innocent civilians of thirteen nations, kidnapped and tortured to instill fear in and extract concessions from a democratic state– has dominated Israel. But what nation would not be concerned with a hostage crisis of its own citizens on its own borders?
Significant international attention has been paid to the hostages, especially by Jews of the diaspora, including those with few or no ties to Israel. The horrific antisemitic attack on Boulder Jews this past summer highlighted a remarkable fact: in a small Colorado town, almost two years after the hostages were kidnapped, dozens were still marching weekly to raise awareness of their plight. Posters of the hostages hang across major American cities, patiently reposted after every antisemitic defacement. I met a man in rural New Hampshire who wore a dog tag reading “All of the hostages – now!” in Hebrew and English. He could not read Hebrew and had not attended a synagogue since his bar mitzvah fifty years before, but he felt compelled to keep raising awareness of the plight of the hostages.
It is tempting to argue that this sustained wave of activism by American Jews is nothing new. The majority of American Jews have always been supportive of both Israel and the plight of international Jews. But the attention and empathy paid by American Jews to the hostage crisis represent something deeper.
The postwar international order has been predicated on the mantra: ‘never again.’ Never again must civilians live in fear of kidnapping, torture, and abuse. We have not fully lived up to that dream, yet it persists, especially in Jews who have often been the victims of lawless regimes and irrational hate. Hamas’s kidnapping of the hostages represents a direct blow to that postwar order. Standing for the hostages was not just an act of solidarity by diaspora Jews. It was a defense of the rule of law, state authority, and democratic responsibility. If Hamas could take Jews in Israel hostage, civilians everywhere were at risk. But if the hostages were safe, all civilians of all nations would be safe.
Back in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands had pressed into the square and the surrounding streets. Many were weeping. Others knelt on the ground, unable to stand from emotion. They were celebrating the return of twenty innocent human beings made to endure horrors. But they were also celebrating the return of a sense of dignity and justice that Hamas had robbed not just Israel, but the world of. Back in America, I am sure, they are celebrating the same thing.
By a JIJ Intern
Navigating Rehabilitation Benefits: Israel’s Ministry of Defense
How to Properly Prepare Your Claim to the Rehabilitation Department of Israel’s Ministry of Defense
When applying to the Rehabilitation Department of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the first steps are critical. Even a small mistake at the outset can jeopardize recognition of your injury — and with it, access to treatment, rehabilitation, and compensation.
At the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, our legal team has extensive experience guiding veterans, reservists, and their families through this complex process. Below, we outline the key principles every applicant should know.
1. Prepare Your Medical Documentation
Israeli law requires anyone injured during military service or reserve duty to provide up-to-date medical documentation that clearly describes the condition.
For psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this means obtaining an official diagnosis from a psychiatrist that explicitly states PTSD as a recognized medical condition. Without this documentation, the recognition process cannot even begin.
2. Injury Recognition – The Foundation of the Process
The first stage of filing a claim is injury recognition. At this stage, the Ministry of Defense decides whether your injury will be acknowledged as service-related.
If recognition is denied, the case will not advance to the medical board, blocking any chance of further evaluation. Because of this, precision and legal accuracy at this stage are essential.
3. Preparing for a PTSD Evaluation
PTSD must be recognized as an independent medical condition under Israeli law. Not every complaint will result in recognition.
Your symptoms must be presented in line with clinical diagnostic criteria. Knowing which symptoms matter, and how to describe them, is critical. Consulting both a lawyer and a PTSD specialist can make the difference between approval and rejection.
4. Professional Guidance Is the Key to Success
Every Israeli citizen has the right to apply for rehabilitation if the injury is service-related. However, the outcome depends largely on how the case is presented.
At JIJ, our lawyers provide full guidance at every step — from gathering medical records to preparing for the medical board. Our mission is to ensure your claim is submitted with clarity, accuracy, and confidence.
Conclusion
The recognition process is as much legal as it is medical. Proper preparation and professional guidance often determine whether a claim succeeds or fails.
At JIJ, we provide this legal support completely free of charge, ensuring that every soldier and veteran can access the rehabilitation and justice they deserve.
Fighting for Families of Children with Severe Disabilities
One of Israel’s most urgent social crises: the struggles facing families of children with severe disabilities. JIJ attorneys recently took part in a special Knesset committee addressing this issue. The discussion, chaired by MK Hava Eti Atia, revealed the depth of the problem—parents left without essential state support, battling every day to provide around-the-clock care.
Testimonies from parents were heartbreaking. Many spoke of foreign caregivers suddenly resigning, stipends that do not cover even basic needs, and a complete lack of a backup system when help disappears overnight. Despite years of promised reforms, families continue to face impossible choices, carrying alone the weight of responsibility that should be shared by society and the state.
JIJ’s Legal Aid Department is now preparing a petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice, demanding structural change. Our goal is clear: to secure lasting solutions so that no family raising a child with severe disabilities is left abandoned.
As Adv. Gai Akoka of JIJ emphasized: “Protecting these families is not a matter of charity — it is a matter of rights, justice, and human dignity.”
Through our legal advocacy, we aim not only to highlight this crisis but to ensure that the voices of these families lead to real reform. Justice cannot wait.
2025 - Echoes of Denial - FactSheet
The October 7th Atrocities and Rising Antisemitism
The October 7th attacks against Israelis were a horrific act of violence that left deep scars on the Jewish community worldwide. However, as the reality of these atrocities is denied or downplayed, antisemitic incidents have surged globally. The correlation between denialism and rising antisemitism is highlighted by presenting compelling data and advocating for legislation and resolutions that prohibit the denial of such events to protect against hate and ensure justice for the victims. Enacting such laws is vital not only for addressing current injustices but also for guaranteeing the non-recurrence of such hatred and violence in the future. Download factsheet here.
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From Terror to Triumph: Nova Festival Survivor Yuval Raphael to Represent Israel at Eurovision 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3BELu4z6-U&t=184s
https://youtu.be/kaYR8o8uoXs
In a powerful testament to resilience and healing through art, Yuval Raphael, one of the survivors featured in the upcoming documentary SATURDAY October 7, has been selected to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025.
Many know Yuval's harrowing story from October 7th, 2023. That morning, she and her friends attended the Nova Music Festival near Re'im, Israel. When Hamas terrorists attacked, Yuval found herself trapped in a roadside bomb shelter with dozens of others. For eight horrifying hours, she had to play dead among the deceased as terrorists repeatedly returned to spray the shelter with gunfire and grenades.
Only 11 people in that shelter survived.
In the documentary, Yuval shares the devastating details of that day - the initial confusion as rockets filled the sky, the moment they realized terrorists had infiltrated the festival grounds, and the unbearable hours spent in silence, wondering if each breath would be her last.
Her testimony provides crucial firsthand evidence of the events of October 7th.
What makes her Eurovision selection particularly moving is that prior to competing on HaKokhav HaBa (The Next Star), Yuval had never performed professionally.
The 24-year-old from Ra'anana was known for being shy about her voice. Yet somehow, in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma, she found the courage not only to speak out about what happened, but to sing.
Yuval will perform a song featuring Hebrew lyrics, to be selected internally and announced in March 2025. The decision to reveal her selection early allows songwriters to create music that resonates with both her voice and her powerful story.
Her journey from surviving one of Israel's darkest days to representing her country on Europe's biggest musical stage serves as an inspiration. It reminds us that even in the wake of horror, the human spirit can find its voice - sometimes quite literally.
We look forward to supporting Yuval as she shares her artistry with the world at Eurovision 2025.
Her presence on that stage will represent not just Israel, but the triumph of hope over hatred, and the enduring power of music to heal. To learn more about the documentary SATURDAY October 7, visit https://saturdayoct7.com or click the button below.
Note: SATURDAY October 7 is currently being selected for film festivals all around the world and will then be released to the public later this year. The documentary features testimonies from seven survivors of the October 7th attacks, including Yuval Raphael, as they seek justice and work to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
A New Rivalry?
Will Turkey Emerge As Israel’s Next Great Foe?
Turkish-Israeli relations have always been in flux. Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israel, and the 1990s were characterised by strengthening relations[1]. However, relations began to deteriorate at the beginning of the 21st century, coinciding with the election of Erdogan and Turkey’s shift towards Islam and championing of the Palestinian issue. This deterioration reached its zenith after the 2010 Gaza Flotilla incident[2], with full diplomatic relations only restored over a decade later[3]. Following the 7th October, Turkish-Israeli relations have returned to rock-bottom, with Erdogan exclaiming that Turkey has “severed all relations with Israel”[4].
Concurrently, Bashar al-Asssad’s regime in Syria has fallen to Turkish-backed rebels, providing Erdogan the opportunity to reassert Turkish influence across a classical Ottoman region. This resembles Iran’s opportunities to restore influence across former Persian regions following the fall of Saddam in Iraq, which led to increased tensions with Israel. Given sunken Turkish-Israel relations, and Turkey’s newfound regional opportunities, will Turkey tread in Iran’s footsteps and emerge as Israel’s next great foe, a possibility hypothesised by the recent Nagel committee report[5], or is there reason to be optimistic about the future of the Turkish-Israeli relationship?
Mirroring Iran
Both Turkey and Iran envision a self-aggrandising destiny as a regional and global power, derived from nostalgia for their former empires. As such Turkey has strong contemporary interest in Syria. Turkey holds 3.2 million Syrian refugees[6] that Erdogan wishes to return as soon as possible due to the economic burden they have placed on Turkey. Erdogan also wants to eradicate Kurdish resistance in Syria, in contrast to Israel’s alignment with the Kurds, used to counter Iraqi and Iranian interests[7]. The Kurdish issue in Syria could become one point of contention between Israel and Turkey.
Another point of contention is Turkey’s strong relationship with the new Syrian regime, demonstrated by Turkish diplomats being the first foreign dignitaries to meet with the new Syrian leaders[8]. If Turkey begins to provide weapons to Syria, and Syria enters into a conflict with Israel, a possibility given the new Syrian regime’s Islamic terrorist origins and unresolved Syria-Israel border disputes, then Israel would be required to strike Turkish assets in Syria, analogous to Israel’s strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assets in Syria prior to Assad’s defeat, which led to direct Israel-Iran conflict. Hence, Turkey’s growing influence in Syria could precipitate a conflict between Israel and Turkey, mirroring the development of the Israel-Iran conflict.
Turkey’s domestic politics produces strong anti-Israel rhetoric. 84% of Turks, including 92% who voted for Erdogan, support Hamas in the current war[9], demonstrating strong domestic incentive for hostility towards Israel. Additionally, Erdogan is a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood movement[10], of which Hamas is an offshoot, leading to strong Turkish support for Hamas, causing friction in Turkish-Israeli relations. Turkey’s domestic and ideological considerations have led to a deterioration in Turkish rhetoric regarding Israel, mirroring Iran’s anti-Israel hostility, which became a multiplier for Israel-Iran tensions, suggesting Turkish-Israeli relations may go the same way.
Moderating factors
Despite some of the similarities between Turkey and Iran, there are differences which can moderate Turkish-Israeli tensions. Unlike Iran, which is over 90% Shia[11], Turkey is 88% Sunni[12]. Therefore, whilst Iran, the centre of Shia thought, can exert influence across all Shia populations in the region, Turkey has to compete with other centres of Sunni power for regional influence, limiting Turkey’s ability to emulate Iran’s Shia crescent.
Unlike Iran, Turkey remains in the US security sphere and is a member of NATO. Thus, the US has incentive to moderate Turkish-Israeli tensions. Additionally, Israel and Turkey remain strategic partners to Azerbaijan, another country that can moderate Turkish-Israeli tensions.
In contrast to Iran’s consistent hostility towards Israel, Erdogan’s Israel policy has been characterised by flip-flopping, with periods of good and bad relations. Though, during periods of bad relations, trade relations have still been able to flourish. Hence, Turkey’s Israel policy could be interpreted more as short-term opportunism than a long-term anti-Israel plan that characterises Iranian policy.
Conclusion
Turkey has all the requisite attributes for mirroring Iran and becoming Israel’s next major foe. Turkey, like Iran, has ambitions to cultivate a sphere of influence across their former imperial regions, whilst spouting extreme anti-Israel rhetoric, and supporting Palestinian terrorist groups. Hence, Israel must prepare the necessary military capabilities in case a direct confrontation with Turkey does break out, as recommended by the Nagel committee report. However, unlike Iran, there are significant forces capable of moderating Turkish belligerence before Turkey reaches foe status. Erdogan has not committed to a consistent Israel policy through the years and has significant economic interest in maintaining a cordial relationship with Israel. Additionally, Israel has plenty of diplomatic avenues to shape Turkey’s behaviour in Israel’s favour. Israel can leverage its relationship with the US, NATO, and Azerbaijan, all partners of Turkey, in moderating tensions, as well as pursue ties with traditional Turkish adversaries like Greece and Cyprus to balance against Turkish power. The future of Turkish-Israel relations is not set in stone, but there is plenty of reason to be hopeful.
By: Eitan Litvin, JIJ Intern
[1] Tür, Ozlem. “Turkey and Israel in the 2000s-from cooperation to conflict.” Israel Studies, vol. 17, no. 3, 2012, pp. 45-66.
[2] “Timeline: Main Events in the Gaza Flotilla Affair.” Reuters, 2010, https://www.reuters.com/article/world/timeline-main-events-in-the-gaza-flotilla-affair-idUSTRE6562BN/. Accessed 21/01/2025.
[3] Obel, Ash. “Israel and Turkey to Restore Ambassadors in Full Renewal of Diplomatic Ties.” timesofisrael.com, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-and-turkey-to-restore-ambassadors-in-full-renewal-of-diplomatic-ties/. Accessed 21/01/2025.
[4] Soylu, Ragip. “Turkey Severs All Relations with Israel, Says Erdogan.” Middle East Eye, 2024, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-severs-all-relations-israel-says-erdogan. Accessed 19/01/2025.
[5] Etzion, Udi. “Nagel Committee Warns Israel Must Prepare For Potential War with Turkey” The Jerusalem Post, 2025, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-83636. Accessed 19/01/2025.
[6] “Overview | UNHCR Turkey.” UNHCR Turkey, 2025, www.unhcr.org/tr/en/ne-yapiyoruz/overview. Accessed 21/01/2025.
[7] Quitaz, Suzan. “The Historic Ties Between Israel and the Kurds of Iraq Will Continue.” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 2023, https://jcpa.org/article/the-historic-ties-between-israel-and-the-kurds-of-iraq-will-continue/. Accessed 19/01/2025
[8] “Leader of New Syrian Government to Make First Foreign Visit to Türkiye.” Report News Agency, 2025, https://report.az/en/region/leader-of-new-syrian-government-to-make-first-foreign-visit-to-turkiye/. Accessed 19/01/2025.
[9] Dalmis, Ibrahim. “Public Opinion and Reaction to Israel’s War on Gaza after October 7 in Türkiye.” Insight Turkey, 2024, https://www.insightturkey.com/articles/public-opinion-and-reaction-to-israels-war-on-gaza-after-october-7-in-turkiye. Accessed 19/01/2025.
[10] Kenez, Levent. “Erdogan Still Maintains Close Ties with Muslim Brotherhood despite Reproachement with Sisi” Nordic Monitor, 2024, https://nordicmonitor.com/2024/09/erdogan-still-maintains-close-ties-with-muslim-brotherhood-despite-rapprochement-with-sisi/. Accessed 19/01/2025.
[11] “Iran - United State Department of State.” United States Department of State, 2023, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/iran/. Accessed 21/01/2025.
[12] “Turkey - United States Department of State.” United States Department of State, 2023, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/turkey/. Accessed 21/01/2025.
What can JIJ do in a year?
2024 was our busiest and most impactful year since our founding 20 years ago
With your help, in 2024, JIJ provided FREE legal aid to 2,733 survivors of terrorism, human trafficking, and discrimination, including:
- 32 wounded Israeli soldiers
- 40 survivors of human trafficking
- 17 survivors of the October 7th massacre
- 68 families seeking Israeli citizenship or residency
- 112 refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and Eritrea
- 120 Israeli families displaced from their homes on the Gaza & Lebanon borders
How does JIJ do all of this in one year? With you, our amazing supporters. Thank you!
Our media presence grew & our team appeared on:
We met personally with dozens of global leaders, including Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog, United Nations SRSG Pramila Patten, & US Senators Chris Murphy, Richard Blumenthal, & John Fetterman.
We shared our research, forensic evidence, and legal analysis with diplomats from 30 countries.
January - June
JIJ held a series of free “ Know Your Rights” seminars for:
- 120 Israeli families who became suddenly homeless, unemployed, or disabled as a result of the war
- 57 Ukrainian & Russian refugee families
- 9 of these families receive Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return
- 500 wounded soldiers
Gathered 84 political & religious leaders in the U.S. for a private screening of unedited, uncensored footage of the October 7th massacre recovered from the bodies of Hamas terrorists and compiled by the IDF.
Drafted an urgent petition to Stop Funding UNRWA & persuaded key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees to enact a 1-year ban on US funding to UNRWA.
Hosted UN diplomats from 18 countries to hear testimony from Yuval Raphael a survivor of the Oct. 7th massacre. Yuval went to the Nova Festival to dance all night with her friends. At dawn, Hamas invaded, and she sought refuge in a roadside bomb shelter, which became a tomb when terrorists found them.
Launched the Survivors Seeking Justice project, and filmed detailed video testimonies of 17 survivors of the Oct. 7th massacre.
JIJ lawyers presented forensic evidence & first responder testimony to senior UN officials. This proof confirmed a pattern of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7th and stopped the rape deniers in their tracks.
July-December
Discussed Israel’s anti-trafficking law with First Lady Michal Herzog. In 2018, JIJ persuaded the
Knesset to adopt a 5-year pilot program that treats women in the sex industry as victims of abuse, & the pimps as criminals. We’re advocating to make the law permanent!
JIJ assisted Israeli police in busting a major human trafficking ring - resulting in the arrest of 14 human traffickers, which was only possible through the testimony of our brave client.
We gave free seminars to soldiers recuperating at Ichilov & Tel Hashomer Hospitals. While private lawyers take 30-50% of a wounded soldier’s disability benefit as payment, JIJ is the only organization providing FREE legal aid to wounded Israeli soldiers, with 32 new soldier clients in 2024.
Intervened at the International Criminal Court with an amicus brief making it clear that the Court lacks jurisdiction over Israeli leaders.
Partnered with the World Union of Jewish Students to train & empower student leaders. Over 8 weeks, we trained 23 Jewish university students from 16 countries to combat antisemitism on their campuses.
The UN Human Rights Council convened a special gathering on the Jewish New Year, to condemn Israel. The timing was intentional - to prevent opposition. In response, we gave our General Assembly floor time to Amit Levy, brother of Naama Levy, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7th. Amit gave powerful testimony on the need to free all of the hostages.