UK Denies Access for Israeli Government Team at DSEI Exhibition in 2025

The UK government has made a significant move by announcing that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, set to open on 9 September. This decision comes amidst rising humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

The British government representative who made the announcement is from the British Ministry of Defence, although the specific name has not been revealed in the available sources. A statement from the British Defence Ministry confirmed the exclusion.

The move is intended to pressure the Israeli government to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The UK government's spokesperson called for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict in Gaza, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

DSEI is a four-day event in the defence industry calendar, held every two years at London's Excel Centre. Israeli defense companies Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI, and Uvision will still be allowed to attend the exhibition. However, the national pavilion hosting Israeli companies will not be present at the DSEI exhibition as in previous years.

The decision is a rare rebuke of a historically close ally and has been met with criticism by Israel, which compares the UK's move to its own experiences with restrictions on Israeli defence stands at the Paris Air Show earlier this year. Israel has described the UK's move as a "regrettable act of discrimination."

Organised by Clarion Defence and Security with government backing, DSEI is a major event in the defence industry calendar. The UK government's decision is being seen as a bold step towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.