Prestigious UK defence college ban on Israelis deepens Gaza War diplomatic fallout

The British government confirmed on Sunday that the country’s prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) will ban Israeli enrollment starting in 2026, citing concerns over the ongoing war in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense told The Telegraph that British defense academies remain open to applicants from a “wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasizing compliance with international humanitarian law… the Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong.”

The spokesperson added, “There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

Israeli Defense Minister Director-General, Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, a former RCDS student, condemned the decision to exclude Israelis in a letter addressed to the British Ministry of Defense. 

"Israel’s exclusion is a profoundly dishonourable act of disloyalty to an ally at war," Baram wrote. The senior Israeli official argued that the decision constituted a “disgraceful break with Britain’s proud tradition of tolerance – and plain decency.”

Baram noted that Israel was “defending international shipping from Houthi aggression, preventing nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of an Islamist regime that chants ‘Death to England,’ and fighting to bring home 48 hostages from Hamas captivity.”

The controversial British decision comes amid diplomatic tensions between London and Jerusalem due to the Gaza war against the terrorist organization Hamas. The United Kingdom initially backed Israel following the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251. However, mounting anti-Israel protests have pressured London to voice growing criticism of Israel and its military operations in Gaza due to alleged “war crimes” against the civilians population.

The British government announced in May that it would freeze its free trade talks with Israel due to the war in Gaza and concerns about the humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave.

In July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that London intends to unilaterally recognize a “Palestinian state” at the United Nations summit later this month. The Israeli government strongly criticized the diplomatic decision as a reward for Hamas, terrorism and the Oct. 7 atrocities. 

Despite growing hostility towards Israel, the British government recently concluded that the Israel is not committing “genocide” in Gaza, according to a letter from the British Parliament Member David Lammy. 

“The Government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent,” Lammy stated, referring to the lack of genocidal intent among top Israeli decision-makers concerning the Gaza war. However, like much of the world, London has condemned what it calls unacceptable number of civilian casualties in Gaza. There are no independent fatality figures from Gaza. The current figures come from Gaza’s Hamas-controlled “Health Ministry,” which has been criticized for systematically distorting the fatality figures and does not distinguish between civilians or combatants. Israel has eliminated over 20,000 terrorists who are counted as “civilians” in Gaza’s official statistics. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog recently visited the UK, meeting with British Prime Minister Starmer. In an interview with the prominent Chatham House in London, Herzog warned that a unilateral recognition of “Palestine” would undermine peace and would help neither Israeli hostages nor Gaza’s civilian population. 

“Unilateral recognition will not free one hostage, will not feed one Palestinian, and will only embolden Hamas and reward terror. Friends and allies can disagree, but such a step would dangerously distort the path to real peace,” Herzog stated. 

The Israeli president concluded that the country is defending the free world against jihadist extremists who threaten world peace. He also urged Europe to help bring the Israeli hostages home and support genuine peace. 

“We are defending Europe and the free world with the blood of our sons and daughters. Our message is simple: help us bring the hostages home, defeat Hamas, and build a future of peace."