THE Labour Government has been accused of "actively participating in genocide" after it admitted that the UK is currently hosting and training soldiers from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The news came in response to a written question in Westminster by Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell, who asked "when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces".
The National reported how Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard admitted that the UK was "currently" training IDF soldiers in the UK, in a response published on Wednesday.
Pollard said: “As part of routine defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.”
The Scottish Greens have now accused the UK Government of "direct, active participation in the genocide of the Palestinian people".
The party's co-leader, Patrick Harvie, said Labour were now tied to "every bomb dropped, every home destroyed, every child killed" by Israel.
"This goes beyond complicity - it is direct, active participation in the genocide of the Palestinian people. Every bomb dropped, every home destroyed, every child killed is a crime that the UK Government is now tied to."
Harvie said that the Scottish Greens have "been clear from the start" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
"Tens of thousands of people, most of them women, children and the elderly, have been killed and entire communities have been wiped out. Hospitals, schools, and refugee camps have been targeted," he added.
"This is not self-defence - it is the destruction of a people through murder and forced displacement."
Harvie continued: "It is appalling that instead of taking action to end the violence, this Labour UK Government are training the Israeli war machine that is committing these crimes.
"Training soldiers who are part of these atrocities is a betrayal of every principle of human rights and international law. It must stop now.
“We repeat our calls for an immediate ceasefire, an end to UK participation in genocide, and full accountability for war crimes. Scotland must stand on the side of peace and justice - not with those who commit and support these horrific acts.
"All those who are participating in these atrocities must be brought to justice.”
The admission comes despite the Labour Government sanctioning two Israeli ministers – Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister.
The UK Government has also continued to send military equipment to Israel, and has declined to block exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets despite evidence that they have been used in Gaza.
Further, the Government has continued sending spy plane flights over Gaza in missions they say are run to provide Israel with information that could help to recover hostages held by Hamas.
The National understands that there are fewer than 10 IDF soldiers training in the UK.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A limited number of Israeli Defence Forces personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.”
“It is longstanding policy for our educational courses to be open to military personnel from a wide range of countries. All UK military courses emphasise the critical importance of compliance with international humanitarian law.”
