US charities fund lone soldiers committing genocide in Gaza
6 Min Read
American nonprofits are funding lone soldiers in "Israel's" military, supporting combat in Gaza amid growing scrutiny over recruitment and legality.
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The bodies of Palestinians who were killed while attempting to access aid trucks entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel are brought to a clinic in Gaza City, Sunday, July 20, 2025 (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
American nonprofits are investing millions to support American citizens who serve as lone soldiers in the Israeli military, many of whom are participating in the ongoing war on Gaza.
These programs, involving social gatherings, political endorsements, and logistical support, have quietly grown across the United States, raising legal and ethical concerns about foreign military service and its promotion, the Intercept reported.
In the United States, American volunteers for the Israeli military have attended events with prominent political and media figures. They partied with Ben Shapiro in Boca Raton, met with House Republicans Brian Mast and Mike Lawler in Washington, and joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams at Gracie Mansion.
On a Manhattan rooftop late last year, they sipped cocktails and reconnected over their support for "Israel’s" war in Gaza, one which has involved extensive bombing, mass displacement, and widespread starvation.
Gaza’s health ministry reports over 58,000 people have been killed, nearly half of them children. Other estimates put the death toll above 80,000.
Nevut and the Lone Soldier Ecosystem
These efforts are often coordinated by groups such as Nevut, a New York-based nonprofit supporting American lone soldiers in "Israel". Operating across 22 states, Nevut organizes events, subsidizes housing, and offers therapy and wellness retreats. One upcoming event is a Panama retreat for lone soldier veterans who served in Gaza.
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Nevut and similar organizations also use social media to promote military service. A recent video featured a day at a shooting range with participants described as “majority serving in the war in Gaza.” Another Instagram post urged veterans to get in touch if they are considering returning to combat, while one guide advised followers not to ask soldiers if they had killed anyone, describing such questions as “political or emotionally charged.”
US nonprofits invest millions in Israeli military support
According to an analysis of tax filings by The Intercept, over $26 million has been funneled by at least 20 US-based charities into lone soldier programs since 2020. These funds help American citizens enlist in the Israeli army and support them through their service.
The largest funder, Friends of the IDF, has spent nearly $20 million since 2020. The group supports over 6,500 lone soldiers each year with emotional, logistical, and housing assistance. In 2023 alone, US nonprofits spent $8.8 million on lone soldier programs.
Organizations like Bayit Brigade, which provides housing and transport support, posted videos of aid being delivered to Israeli military units such as the Yahalom Unit, known for tunnel warfare and demolitions in Gaza. Bayit Brigade’s revenue surged from $160,000 in 2022 to $1.3 million in 2023.
Recruitment funnel from US to "Israel"
Recruitment begins early. Many lone soldiers, such as Becca Strober, first encountered the idea during high school programs in "Israel". Programs like Garin Tzabar, funded by the Zionist youth movement Tzofim, formally recruit American teens to serve in the Israeli military.
Strober recalled how alumni in military uniform visited her class and casually discussed enlisting. “There were a lot of informal ways of talking about enlisting in the army,” she said.
US Jewish day schools also play a role. The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, had 51 alumni serving in the Israeli military in 2023. Rae Kushner Yeshiva posted about an alum who became a social media manager in the army's Spokesperson Unit, praising her hasbara work.
Legal ambiguity and government silence
While federal law prohibits recruitment for foreign militaries on US soil, it allows for promotional and fundraising efforts. The State Department has stated that US citizens are not required to report their service in foreign militaries, and that dual nationals must comply with laws in both countries.
When asked about legal implications, US government agencies, including the State Department, Department of Justice, and Department of Defense, redirected inquiries to one another, offering no clear answer.
“The State Department basically says we don’t want Americans serving abroad, but it’s hard to enforce,” said David Malet, a foreign fighter expert at American University.
Rising recognition and the Zionist narrative
Recognition for American lone soldiers is growing. Public commemorations, increased social media engagement, and special events honoring those killed have reinforced ties between American Jewish communities and "Israel."
“There is a direct funnel,” said a former Zionist youth leader. “You educate kids from age five and they’re ready to fight at eighteen.”
Strober, now an anti-occupation activist, said her experience left her questioning the very system she once supported. After working for a human rights organization during "Israel’s" 2014 war on Gaza, she refused to be recalled from the reserves.
“I just remember thinking, I’m not going to go zero in guns to kill Gazans when I’m talking to Gazans on the phone every day,” she said.
The charities and their impact
Amid mounting criticism, some nonprofits have stopped direct funding of projects in illegal West Bank settlements. However, many continue to fund units operating in both Gaza and the West Bank, where over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023.
For example, the Lone Soldier Foundation provides funding specifically for families attending a New Jersey synagogue whose children serve in the Israeli army. In 2023, it spent over $80,000 on non-combat equipment for the units where those American citizens served.
“It doesn’t allow American Jewish communities to think critically,” Strober said. “You know people who have been killed. Or people who have served.”
As American nonprofits continue to fund lone soldier programs, questions persist over whether these efforts amount to soft recruitment, and whether US citizens should be aiding a military involved in mass civilian murders.
Read more: IOF troops admit to killing starving Palestinians: Israeli media
