The British government acknowledged that it is hosting Israeli army soldiers in training sessions on its soil, in a move that sparked widespread controversy, especially in light of the issuance of a decision by the International Court of Justice calling on countries to stop their military support for Israel against the background of their violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the British LBC radio.
In a written response to a parliamentary question by workers’ representative Rachel Maskle, the British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said: “A limited number of Israeli defense forces are currently participating in training courses held in the United Kingdom.”
This acknowledgment comes at a time when international pressure is escalating on governments to stop their military support for Israel, especially after the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued, last May, a decision that orders countries to take measures to prevent more violations in the Gaza Strip, including stopping any form of military or logistical support that may be used in illegal operations under international law.
The participation of Israeli soldiers in British training programs is seen as a potential undermining of the international judicial decision, amid demands from human rights organizations and parliamentarians to stop this military cooperation immediately.
Human rights reports indicated that this type of indirect support may be a violation of Britain’s obligations under international law, if it is proven that it contributes to the continuation of the occupation or facilitating operations that are a violation of human rights.
The British Ministry of Defense did not reveal the nature of the exercises or sites in which they are conducted, and only said that the United Kingdom is committed to the highest standards of international law in its defense relations.
For its part, human rights organizations called for more transparency in military cooperation with Israel, asking the government to publish more loyal details about the content of these courses, and to ensure that they are not used later in military operations against Palestinian civilians.
