• The UK has barred Israeli officials from attending the DSEI defense trade show amid Gaza conflict.
• Israel’s Defense Ministry condemned the UK’s ban as discrimination.
• Israeli defense companies will still be allowed to participate in the event.

The UK government has officially barred Israeli officials from attending the upcoming Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair scheduled for September 9-12 in London. The decision comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, which the UK government has openly criticized, stating that "the Israeli government's decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong," according to aa, scmp, and aljazeera.

In response to the UK's decision, Israel’s Defense Ministry expressed that this exclusion equates to "discrimination" and stated it would withdraw from the exhibition entirely, refraining from establishing a national pavilion, a practice they had previously maintained. The ministry contended that such actions serve to legitimize terrorism and introduce political biases inappropriate for a professional industry event, according to bbc and cbsnews.

However, Israeli defense companies, including some with UK subsidiaries, will still be permitted to attend the DSEI, which is one of the world's largest arms exhibitions drawing various international representatives. The UK government's stance, which reflects increased pressure on Israel regarding its military operations, follows several recent actions, including the suspension of arms export licenses to Israel, as outlined by middleeasteye and aljazeera.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has intensified rhetoric against the Israeli government, warning that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state in the absence of immediate action to halt the violence and facilitate humanitarian aid. International sanctions against Israel are also being discussed among European Union foreign ministers to respond to the ongoing conflict, as reported by scmp and aljazeera.