Protests expected as 51 Israeli arms makers among exhibitors at London trade fair

"Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat) said Israel's three biggest arms companies Elbit Systems, Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) were among those planning to attend despite the UK barring an Israeli government delegation last month. Emily Apple, Caat's media coordinato, said the British government had reached peak complicity in genocide in allowing Israeli arms makers to exhibit, a decision that she said allowed companies to market their genocide-tested weapons to international buyers."

"The peak point for the protests is expected to be as the show opens on Tuesday morning, with organisers saying there could be anywhere from 500 to 1,000 demonstrators present. I've never seen this level of interest in anti arms trade protests, Apple said. It is the first time the arms fair has been held since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, and the event is expected to be intensively policed."

"Elbit is Israel's largest private defence contractor, while Rafael and IAI are both state owned. All three are major suppliers to the Israel Defense Forces, which is beginning an assault on Gaza City where hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to be sheltering after nearly two years of bombardment."

Fifty-one Israeli arms makers and the US defence giant behind the F-35 fighters are among about 1,600 exhibitors at the biennial DSEI trade show in London's Docklands. Israel's largest private contractor Elbit Systems and state-owned Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries are attending despite the UK barring an Israeli government delegation. Campaign Against Arms Trade accused the British government of facilitating marketing of weapons tested in Gaza. All three firms supply the Israel Defense Forces, which is preparing an assault on Gaza City. Organisers expect 500–1,000 demonstrators protesting the presence of these companies at the show, which will be intensively policed.

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