THE Ministry of Defence confirmed today that Israeli government delegates will be banned from an arms fair taking place in London next month, though arms companies abetting Israel's genocide in Gaza are still welcome.

Campaigners have been demanding action be taken to bar Israeli companies and potential war criminals from the biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, due to open up at London’s ExCeL centre on September 9. 

A full exhibitor list has not yet been published, but researchers at Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) have compiled a list of over 500 out of 1,600 companies due to attend the event.

The list, which can be found on CAAT’s website, includes several Israeli firms such as state-owned arms giant Rafael as well as Elbit Systems, which makes 85 per cent of the drones used by the Israel Defence Forces.

Other complicit companies are set to be present, including Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, which both play a major role in producing the F-35 fighter jets that Israel has been using to drop 2,000lb bombs on civilians.

Emily Apple of CAAT said: “Israel is committing genocide. It has created a man-made famine. Babies are dying from starvation. Israel is bombing hospitals and killing journalists. These heart breaking atrocities are war crimes. Nothing could be clearer. 

“The organisers of DSEI are trying to hide their exhibitors because they know they will face scrutiny for their inclusion of Israeli arms companies, and are trying to hide their complicity. But they cannot hide, and they will face the consequences of their actions.”

CAAT cited particular concerns about the presence of Israel’s directorate of defence, research & development (DDR&D) — a branch of the Israeli Ministry of Defence — as well as Israel Aerospace Industries.

A government spokesperson said today: “The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong.

“As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.”