LONDON — A major arms fair opens Tuesday in London without the presence of Israeli government officials due to worsening diplomatic relations between Britain and Israel over the Gaza conflict.

London arms show opens under Israel cloud

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration excluded the officials from the four-day event, but not the 51 Israeli defense companies that are set to attend, including major arms manufacturer Elbit.

State-owned Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries will also have exhibitions, making Israel the fifth-largest national contingent after the UK, the United States, Australia and Germany.

A coalition of more than 100 grassroots organizations and activist groups, including supporters of the Palestinians and anti-arms protestors, is expected to descend on the Excel London exhibition center in the British capital, which is hosting the biennial DSEI UK trade fair.

Israeli companies exhibiting “should be investigated for crimes against humanity, not invited to profit from the unspeakable devastation they have caused in Gaza,” Campaign Against Arms Trade spokesperson Emily Apple said in a statement.

Britain’s defense ministry announced at the end of August that no Israeli government delegation had been invited, citing Israel’s “decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza,” where Israel is battling to crush Hamas militants.

Israel slammed the exclusion of its officials from the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair as “discrimination.”

Israeli president visits

At the same time, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due in London on Tuesday for a three-day official visit “to show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism,” his office said Monday.

The arms fair “includes unrivalled access to international governments, ministries of defense... alongside all UK frontline commands,” according to the DSEI UK website., This news data comes from:http://aichuwei.com

A record number of exhibitors and visitors are expected at the event, as global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, have prompted European and other governments to ramp up military spending.

France, which is also represented at the show, had in June blocked access to the stands of several Israeli arms manufacturers at the Paris Air Show for displaying what it termed “offensive weapons.”