UK bans Israeli officials from major arms exhibition

London: The British government has barred Israeli officials from attending a major London arms fair next month, as tensions between the two allies escalate 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 in a statement.

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.