By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The UK government on Friday said Israeli officials will not be invited to participate in a major London arms fair next month, a decision that comes as relations between British authorities and Israel deteriorates over the occupation of Gaza.
“We can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025” in September, a defence ministry statement said on Friday.
UK government however says Israeli defence companies will be allowed to attend the biennial event but without a representative from the country.
In addition to other moves to register its grievance, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in recent months suspended arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza. It also suspended free trade talks with Israel and sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers over Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza nearing its second year.
“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” the UK government statement added.
“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,” it added.
Israel’s defence ministry reacted furiously to the ban, calling it “discriminatory”.
“These restrictions amount to a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination against Israel’s representatives,” said a defence ministry statement.
“Accordingly, the Israeli Ministry of Defence will withdraw from the exhibition and will not establish a national pavilion,” it added.
Starmer last month announced that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not take steps, including agreeing to a truce in the Gaza war that was sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
France in June blocked access to the stands of several Israeli arms manufacturers at the Paris Air Show for displaying “offensive weapons”.
On Saturday, European Union foreign ministers are expected to come up with possible new sanctions against Israel and Hamas at a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday.
