UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity
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Leaked documents show Israeli officers, including Gaza commander Yaniv Asor, trained at Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies.
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Israeli soldiers secure the settlement of Avivim on the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine on September 2, 2019 (AP)
Israeli military officers overseeing operations in Gaza have received training at Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), leaked documents published by Declassified UK revealed. The revelations raise questions about UK complicity in "Israel’s" war on Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been murdered.
Leaked list names Gaza commander
The alumni list, leaked via the Distributed Denial of Secrets platform, identifies Colonel Yaniv Asor, now head of the Israeli army’s Southern Command, as a graduate of the RCDS. Asor oversees Gaza operations and has been accused by "Israel’s" own air force chief of responsibility for mass civilian casualties, including the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Other graduates include Amir Baram, current director-general of the Israeli Security Ministry; Major General Itai Veruv, commander of the IOF's depth corps; Hidai Zilberman, former IOF spokesperson and now head of its planning directorate; and Brigadier General Harel Knafo, who led Southern Command information operations after October 7.
UK announces ban, but IOF still training
Following earlier revelations in July that Israeli officers were being trained in Britain, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that no new students from "Israel" will be accepted at the RCDS from 2026.
However, Declassified reported that as many as four IOF officers currently enrolled in Britain will be allowed to complete their courses.
Retired British general Charlie Herbert slammed the decision as inadequate, calling it “a disgrace” and demanding that all Israeli soldiers be expelled immediately. He argued that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government risks “complicity that will shame us for decades.”
The alumni list also highlights troubling past conduct. Effie Eitam, a former IOF general and politician, studied at the RCDS before infamously ordering his troops in 1988 to beat a Palestinian to death. He later described Palestinians as “creatures from the depths of darkness.”
The involvement of such figures underscores concerns over the effectiveness of the RCDS’s human rights training and Britain’s role in enabling war crimes.
UK complicity questioned
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson defended UK training programs, saying that they stress compliance with international humanitarian law. However, they also criticized "Israel’s" escalating assault on Gaza, urging an immediate ceasefire, release of captives, and a surge in humanitarian aid.
Despite these statements, the revelations spotlight Britain’s longstanding military ties to "Israel" and raise sharp questions about complicity in what rights groups agree is a genocide in Gaza.
