U.K. Bars Israelis from Top Military Academy over Gaza War

The United Kingdom will exclude Israeli officials from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) starting from September 2026, referring to the continuous Israeli military activity in Gaza.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on September 15 that existing Israeli students would be permitted to complete their studies but new intakes will not be accepted. Established in 1927 in Winston Churchill's vision, the RCDS has developed senior military and civilian leaders from across the globe.

A statement by an MoD spokesperson read: "U.K. military training courses have long been available to members from a broad array of nations, and all U.K. military training courses reinforce adherence to international humanitarian law. The Israeli government's move further to ratchet up its military campaign in Gaza is not right." The spokesperson also reiterated the government's call for a swift ceasefire.

The move is the first time Israel has been barred from the institution. Amir Baram, Israel's Defence Ministry director general and a past college graduate, denounced the move as "a discriminatory act" and "a deeply shameful act of betrayal of a belligerent ally." "It is self-destructive British security," Baram warned in a letter to the MoD.

The move is made as Britain ramps up humanitarian aid for Palestinians. The initial group of children from Gaza has reached the U.K. to receive life-saving NHS care as part of a joint government program. Up to 30 to 50 young patients are expected to be treated, with Scotland agreeing to take up to 20.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper informed members of parliament that efforts to evacuate the children took "a lot of diplomatic work," stating the U.K. was committed to assisting wounded families and enabling students to pursue their studies. Scottish health secretary Neil Gray referred to the move as "a small step towards restoring some humanity to the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The MoD pointed out that there are "fewer than five" Israeli officers in non-combat academic courses in the RCDS, and none will be impacted by the new policy.

The U.K. has also paused some weapons export licenses to Israel and refused to let Israeli government officials attend the London arms fair last week, although 51 Israeli defense firms, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), attended.

Outside the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, around 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed up, waving Palestinian flags and placards with one saying: "UK: Stop arming Israel. Stop the Gaza Genocide."

Israel's Foreign Ministry had earlier termed the U.K.'s barring of Israeli officials from the arms exhibition as "discrimination," adding it "serves extremists, grants legitimacy to terror, and is driven by political considerations."