The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will ban Israelis from studying at the UK’s prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) from next year.
The prestigious college, which is run by the ministry and trains high-ranking officers from the UK and its allies in strategic-level roles, has never before issued a blanket ban on applicants from an allied state.
The MOD told the JC: "UK military educational courses have long been open to personnel from a wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasising compliance with international humanitarian law.
"However, the Israeli Government's decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong.
"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.”
The MoD confirmed that the ban will not affect current students and emphasised that fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in UK-based training courses.
The decision has been criticised by college alumni Amir Baram, the director-general of Israel's Defence Ministry.
In a letter written by Baram to the MoD, and reported by the Telegraph, he described the ban as "discriminatory" and a "profoundly dishonourable act of disloyalty to an ally at war".
He wrote: "[It is a] disgraceful break with Britain's proud tradition of tolerance - and plain decency".
"[Israel is] 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 establishment's response is to silence Israeli voices... Frankly, Israel's exclusion is nothing less than an act of self-sabotage of British security."
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