The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), one of Britain’s most prestigious military academies, has announced it will no longer accept Israeli students from next year, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The move comes as tensions deepen between London and Tel Aviv over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
The Defence Academy, which oversees the RCDS, confirmed the decision after reports revealed that Israeli officers had been studying at the institution since 2023. Among them was Yeftah Nortkin, a senior officer who commanded a patrol company during Israel’s 2008–09 Gaza offensive, which left hundreds of children dead. Following his graduation from the RCDS in 2023, Nortkin went on to lead the Israeli army’s “Bang” division during its operations in Lebanon.
UK Condemns Israeli Military Escalation
An MoD spokesperson said the ban reflected Britain’s opposition to Israel’s escalating military campaign in Gaza.
“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong. There must be a diplomatic solution with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the spokesperson told the Telegraph.
The MoD also stressed that all military training courses in the UK are rooted in respect for international humanitarian law.
Israel Denounces UK’s Decision
Israel reacted angrily to the ban. Amir Baram, director general of Israel’s defence ministry and a former RCDS graduate, condemned the decision as “a profoundly dishonourable act of disloyalty to an ally at war.”
In a letter to the MoD, Baram described it as a “discriminatory act” and a “disgraceful break with Britain’s proud tradition of tolerance and decency.”
A Strained UK-Israel Relationship
The move is the latest in a series of diplomatic clashes between the UK and Israel. Just last week, Britain barred Israeli officials from attending its largest arms trade exhibition. The Starmer government is also preparing to back the recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later this month — a step Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned as “rewarding Hamas.”
Despite the growing rift, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited London last week, where he met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street. Herzog later said he had both “argued” and found common ground with Starmer, whom he still described as “an ally.”
The ban marks a turning point in UK-Israel defence relations, highlighting growing European pressure on Israel over the humanitarian cost of the war in Gaza.
