The UK will no longer admit Israelis to one of its most prestigious defence academies, the Royal College of Defence Studies, citing Israel's carnage in Gaza, The Telegraph reported.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that from next year, Israel will be excluded from the college, which has trained senior officers and officials from around the world since 1927.

The decision marked the first time Israelis have been barred from the institution, founded under Winston Churchill's vision of fostering international understanding among military and civilian leaders, according to the report.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said Israel's actions in Gaza were "wrong," and that the government had decided to withhold access to the college as a result.

The move has drawn sharp criticism in Israel. Amir Baram, director general of Israel's Defence Ministry and himself a graduate of the college, called it "a profoundly dishonourable act of disloyalty to an ally at war."

In a letter to the Ministry of Defence, Baram described the decision as "a discriminatory act" and "a disgraceful break with Britain's proud tradition of tolerance and plain decency."

Israel has killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in its carnage in Gaza since October 2023.

It has reduced most of the enclave to ruins and practically displaced all of its population.