‘Peak Complicity’ – Over 50 Israeli Firms to Exhibit at UK’s Largest Arms Fair

September 10, 2025 News
The exhibitor list for the UK’s largest arms fair reveals the participation of 51 Israeli companies, including Elbit Systems and Rafael, according to the Campaign Against Arms Trade. (PHoto: via CAAT)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The UK government “has reached peak complicity in genocide in allowing 51 Israeli arms companies to exhibit at DSEI.” CAAT spokesperson

The exhibitor list for the UK’s largest arms fair reveals the participation of 51 Israeli companies, including Elbit Systems and Rafael, according to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).

“This government keeps insisting it is doing everything in its power to hold the Israeli government to account for its actions. This information shows this is an outrageous and offensive lie,” CAAT’s Media Coordinator, Emily Apple, said in a statement, ahead of the opening on Tuesday. “However it has reached peak complicity in genocide in allowing 51 Israeli arms companies to exhibit at DSEI.”

Israel’s three biggest arms companies – Elbit Systems, Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries – have confirmed they will still be attending” the four-day Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), “despite the UK government refusing to invite an official Israeli government delegation,” CAAT said in a press statement.

‘Genocide-Tested Weapons’

Apple said the UK government “is allowing companies to market their genocide tested weapons to human rights abusing countries around the world.”

She added, “The people who run these companies are war criminals. They should be investigated for crimes against humanity, not invited to profit from the unspeakable devastation they have caused in Gaza.”

The UK Government’s £2 Billion Israeli Weapons Deal: Silencing Dissent and Complicity in Genocide

CAAT’s latest UK arms to Israel report, How the UK arms and supports Israel’s genocide in Gaza, includes updated figures on “the most significant part” of the UK’s arms trade with Israel – the F-35 combat aircraft,” the statement said.

Israel is using F-35s to drop 2000lb bombs on children in Gaza, according to CAAT.

“From available data, CAAT is now able to conservatively estimate that the value of this contract to UK arms companies, including spare parts, is £572m since 2016,” the statement noted.

F35 Contractor

It said prime contractor for the F35s, Lockheed Martin, as well as BAE Systems, the lead sub-contractor in the UK, will both exhibit at DSEI.

“These are the arms companies arming the IDF (Israeli Army – PC). These are the arms companies facilitating and profiting from Israel bombing hospitals, killing journalists and deliberately starving babies,” Apple stated.

“These are not the actions of a government committed to taking action against Israel. These are the actions of a government deeply complicit in a genocide,” she added.

The report also revealed the top ten companies for recent arms export licenses to Israel. CAAT said nine out of these ten companies and/or their parent companies will be exhibiting at DSEI.

“It is clear that our government will not do anything that disrupts the profits of arms dealers,” Apple stressed.

Protests

Scores of demonstrators have gathered outside the venue of the arms fair, with scuffles breaking out with police.

Declassified UK said it was banned from entering this year’s arms fair.

The UK government has “not concluded” that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and denied that it was “arming” the ongoing military operation, according to a government letter.

In a letter dated September 1 but reported by media on Monday, then Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, wrote: “As per the genocide convention the crime of genocide only occurs where there is ‘specific intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group’. The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”

Ongoing Genocide

Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.

Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 64,500 Palestinians, with more than 163,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.

UK has ‘Not Concluded’ Israel is Committing Genocide in Gaza – Lammy

Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

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