Israel MoD to Boycott DSEI 2025 Arms Show after U.K. Bans Israeli Officials from Event

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced it will boycott the DSEI 2025 arms exhibition in London after the U.K. government barred Israeli officials from attending the event.

The biennial defense show, scheduled for September 9–12 in London, is expected to draw more than 400 arms companies and delegations from around the world. However, the British defence ministry confirmed no Israeli government delegation has been invited this year, citing Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

In response, Israel’s defense ministry said it will not set up a national pavilion at DSEI. “This is an offensive and shameful step, deliberately taken against Israeli representatives. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense will not participate in the exhibition and will not set up a national pavilion there,” the ministry said in an official statement. It added that Israeli industries choosing to exhibit independently “will receive full assistance as required.”

The ministry further accused the U.K. of making a political decision that “serves the extremists, legitimizes terrorism, and goes beyond the professional and accepted framework of security exhibitions around the world.”

The move follows London’s suspension of certain arms export licenses to Israel, the freezing of free trade negotiations, and sanctions imposed on two Israeli ministers. Britain has also aligned with France and Canada in pressuring Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September unless Israel addresses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accepts a ceasefire, and commits to a two-state solution. The U.N. session opens on the same day as DSEI in London.

The DSEI humiliation follows similar actions in Europe, including the 2025 Paris Air Show where Israeli firms were told to cover weapon displays, and the 2024 Eurosatory defense expo where authorities banned an Israeli pavilion altogether.

Despite diplomatic pressure, Israel’s defense exports have continued to grow. In August, Elbit Systems announced a $1.6 billion deal with a European customer. According to the defense ministry, Israeli arms sales totaled $14.8 billion in 2024, a record high for the fourth consecutive year.