‘Discrimination against Israel’: UK gov’t blocks Israeli officials participation in major arms expo

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Friday that it withdrew its official participation in the 2025 Defence Exhibition & Trade Show (DSEI) in London after the British government “imposed unilateral restrictions.”

According to a statement, the limitations were imposed on the “official participation of Israeli government and military representatives.”

A government spokesman told U.S. digital news outlet Politico that Israeli companies would still be permitted to participate, but added, “The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong. As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.”

“These restrictions amount to a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination against Israel’s representatives,” the Israeli Defense Ministry said, announcing it would therefore “withdraw from the exhibition and will not establish a national pavilion.”

“Israeli industries that choose to participate will, however, receive the Ministry’s full support,” the statement added.

DSEI is a major arms exhibition taking place in London every two years. It is organized by Clarion Defence and Security Limited with official support from the government and armed forces.

The government spokesman further told Politico, “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.”

British officials said the ban could be removed if Israel “demonstrated a commitment to upholding international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” Politico reported.

The Israeli Defense Ministry slammed the decision: “At a time when Israel is engaged on multiple fronts against Islamist extremists and terrorist organisations – forces that also threaten the West and international shipping lanes - this decision by Britain plays into the hands of extremists, grants legitimacy to terrorism, and introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defence industry exhibition.”

Relations between Israel and the United Kingdom have become strained since Hamas’ invasion and massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The British government has reduced trade ties and has threatened to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month unless Israel “takes significant steps that lead to an end to the situation in Gaza.”

In June, the French government blocked Israeli firms from exhibiting some weapons at the Paris Air Show after requesting Israel only put its defensive weapons on display.