UK bars Israeli officials from major London arms fair amid Gaza war tensions

The British government has blocked Israeli officials from attending next month’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, as pressure mounts over Israel’s war on Gaza.

“We can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025,” the Ministry of Defence said Friday, according to AFP.

The biennial arms fair, scheduled for September 9–12, is one of the largest in the world. Israel’s defence companies will still be allowed to exhibit, but without an official government presence or pavilion.

The move follows a string of measures by London: suspending some arms export licences to Israel, freezing free trade talks, and sanctioning two far-right Israeli ministers. Britain cited Israel’s decision to escalate its Gaza offensive despite warnings about famine and humanitarian collapse.

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

Israel’s defence ministry blasted the UK’s decision as “a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination” and said it would pull out of the exhibition entirely. Israeli media reported that London hinted the ban could be lifted if Israel committed to “upholding international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The UK’s move comes as European pressure grows. In May, France barred Israeli firms from showcasing offensive weapons at the Paris Air Show. EU foreign ministers will meet in Copenhagen this weekend to discuss further sanctions, with Sweden and the Netherlands pushing hardest.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also taken a sharper line, pledging last month to recognise Palestinian statehood in September if Israel refuses a truce and concrete steps to end the occupation.

The DSEI fair typically hosts top-level delegations alongside private arms makers. But this year’s event will reflect deepening fractures in Western support for Israel as the Gaza death toll continues to climb.