The British government has barred Israeli government officials from attending DSEI UK 2025 and confirmed no Israeli government delegation will be invited. The move follows suspension of some weapons export licences, the freezing of free trade negotiations, and sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers amid Israel's military actions in Gaza and severe restrictions on humanitarian supplies leading to famine. The UK said Israel's decision to escalate its Gaza operation is wrong and called for an immediate ceasefire, hostage returns, and a surge in aid. A May report found UK firms continued exporting military items despite a partial suspension, and Israel denounced the exclusion as discriminatory while withdrawing from the exhibition.
The biennial exhibition, running from September 9-12, is one of the world's largest arms trade shows. The decision follows London's suspension of some weapons export licences to Israel, the freezing of free trade negotiations, and sanctions imposed on two far-right Israeli ministers over the assault on Gaza, where famine has taken hold amid Israel's severe restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid.
The decision follows London's suspension of some weapons export licences to Israel, the freezing of free trade negotiations, and sanctions imposed on two far-right Israeli ministers over the assault on Gaza, where famine has taken hold amid Israel's severe restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid. The Israeli government's decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong, the British statement said. 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.
A report published in May found that United Kingdom firms have continued to export military items to Israel despite a government partial suspension in September last year. Israeli defence companies will still be permitted to take part in the event, but without an official government presence or pavilion. Israel's defence ministry denounced the move as a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination and said it would withdraw from the exhibition entirely.
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