To: Clarion Events, FCDO, DBT, ExCeL and Sadiq Khan,
Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), one of the world's largest arms fair, returns to the ExCeL centre in London between 9th-12th September 2025.
DSEI takes place biennially and is a monstrosity where the world's biggest and worst arms dealers come together to make deals in death and destruction that cause misery worldwide.
Israel has always played a prominent role at DSEI. In 2023, in addition to the UK government inviting an official Israeli delegation, Israel had its own country pavilion with 47 domestic Israeli arms companies exhibiting at the event. These are companies that are directly responsible for, and directly profiting from, Israel's genocide in Gaza and the war crimes it is committing in the West Bank and Lebanon. For example, Elbit Systems provides 80% of the drones that the Israeli military use in Palestine. One of the key note speakers in 2023 was Brigadier General Dr Danny Gold, head of directorate of defense research and development for the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
Despite Israel's horrific war crimes, despite the ICJ finding that it was plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, despite the ICC issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, despite this government imposing a partial arms suspension and finding that Israel is not committed to complying with international law, it looks like it will be business as usual for Israel at DSEI 2025. Israel is already confirmed as having a country pavilion at DSEI 2025. This will be a huge opportunity for Israeli companies to market military equipment that is no longer just "battle-tested" but now genocide tested, on a global level.
We demand that Israel is kicked out of DSEI, including a ban on Israeli arms companies, speakers and delegations attending the event.
Specifically we demand that:
- the government does not invite an Israeli delegation and does not issue visas for Israeli government, military and arms industry personnel;
- Clarion Events bans Israeli companies and speakers from attending.
- ExCeL refuse to host the event unless Israeli companies are banned.
- The London mayor does everything in his power to ensure Israeli delegations and companies are excluded from the event.
Every company and government body responsible for Israel's inclusion at DSEI is complicit in aiding and abetting Israel's genocide and the commission of war crimes.
We demand that Palestinian lives are prioritised over the profits of arms dealers.