UK excludes Israeli officials from defence conference, allows firms to exhibit

The British government has barred Israeli officials from attending a major defence and security exhibition in London, citing continued criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Israel’s Ministry of Defence has historically maintained a prominent presence at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, a major biennial showcase of weapons and military equipment held in the UK capital.

However, a spokesperson for the British government told POLITICO that Israeli officials will not be invited to participate in this year’s event.

Israeli arms manufacturers, however, will still be allowed to exhibit at DSEI as usual, according to Whitehall officials, though their participation is expected to spark significant protests.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” the spokesperson said. “As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.”

The spokesperson 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.”

In recent months, London has gradually increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue a ceasefire. The UK government has suspended trade negotiations and signalled its readiness to recognise Palestinian statehood if Israel does not shift its current approach.

The DSEI conference, which regularly attracts a mix of national delegations and private defence firms, typically assigns each country its own pavilion. It remains unclear whether Israel will still host a dedicated pavilion at this year’s event.

DSEI is organised by Clarion Defence and Security Limited but receives significant backing from the British government and the armed forces.

This decision follows a similar controversy at the Paris Air Show in June, where Israeli companies were ordered to remove certain weapons from their displays and refused to comply.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the British government has formally notified Israel of the decision, adding that "the restriction could be lifted if Israel demonstrates a clear commitment to upholding international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories".

By Tamilla Hasanova