UK bars Israeli Govt delegation from London Arms Fair amid Gaza War tensions

The UK government has announced that Israeli government representatives will not be invited to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair in London next month, citing Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday that “no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025” scheduled for September. However, Israeli defence firms will still be permitted to participate in the biennial exhibition.

The move, which Israel quickly condemned as “discrimination,” comes as relations between both countries continue to deteriorate. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has already suspended arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza, halted free trade negotiations, and sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers in protest at Israel’s conduct of the war.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” the UK government said in its statement. “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.”

In a sharp reaction, Israel’s defence ministry said the restrictions were “a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination against Israel’s representatives,” adding that it would withdraw from the exhibition and cancel plans for a national pavilion.

Starmer has also warned that Britain will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to agree to a truce and take steps toward ending the conflict triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 attack.

The UK decision follows similar measures by France, which barred Israeli arms companies from showcasing “offensive weapons” at the Paris Air Show in June. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers will meet in Copenhagen on Saturday to discuss possible new sanctions on both Israel and Hamas, with Sweden and the Netherlands pushing for stronger action.