Israeli defense firms barred from major Dutch arms fair amid Gaza war – report

Israeli defense companies will not be permitted to participate in the Netherlands’ largest military exhibition, Globes reports, citing Israeli sources.

The NEDS exhibition, held annually in Rotterdam and focused largely on the naval sector, has in recent years hosted Israel’s biggest defense contractors, including Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, and Rafael. But the event’s organizers wrote in a recent letter that this year’s event, scheduled for November 20, will bar Israeli firms, the report says.

Israeli sources confirmed to Globes that they will not attend. Organizers cited “security and organizational” reasons and did not respond to Globes’ requests for comment.

According to the report, the decision appears to be linked to the Gaza war and follows a broader Dutch policy shift relating to Israel.

The Netherlands has been pushing within the European Union to impose economic and trade sanctions on Israel. In May, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp backed a legal review of the EU Association Agreement with Israel — the framework governing bilateral ties — which later found “indications” that Israel had violated the human rights requirements of the agreement. Since then, the Netherlands has sought to suspend Israel’s participation in the EU’s Horizon research funding program and reduce trade links.

The Netherlands already halted direct arms exports to Israel several months after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre that launched the war in Gaza. It continues, however, to supply Israel indirectly with F-35 fighter jet parts via third countries, according to Globes.

The Dutch ban follows other recent European restrictions on Israeli defense firms. In June, several Israeli companies were barred from displaying at the Paris Air Show.