“We can confirm that the Israeli delegation will not be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement reported by AFP news agency on Friday.
The biennial exhibition, which will be held from September 9th to 12th, is one of the world’s largest arms trade shows.
The decision follows the suspension of London’s arms export licenses to Israel, freezing free trade negotiations and sanctions imposed on two far-right Israeli ministers for attacks on Gaza, which hunger holds amid Israel’s severe restrictions on the supply of humanitarian aid.
A report released in May found that British companies continued to export military matters to Israel despite a partial government halt last September.
Israeli media reported that if Israel promised to “support international law on occupied Palestinian territories,” the UK could reverse the ban.
The move comes amidst the incidence of European pressure on Israel over the ongoing war with Gaza.
In May, France banned Israeli weapons manufacturers from displaying “offensive weapons” at the Paris Air Show.
The European Union Foreign Minister will discuss further sanctions against Israel at a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday, with Sweden and the Netherlands leading tougher actions.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer has shown a more difficult stance towards Israel and pledged last month to recognize the Palestinian state in September if Israel agrees to an armistice and refuses to take concrete steps to end the occupation.
DSEI Arms Fair traditionally hosts senior delegations along with private arms contractors.
Palestinian health officials say more than 62,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed by Israel in a war of nearly two years, and at least 157,600 were injured.
South Africa filed a lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel was violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The lawsuit alleges that Israel’s war with Gaza targets Palestinian group Hamas, with the military attacking civilians, schools, hospitals and camps. Israel denied it intentionally targeting civilians.
MNA/