France bans Israeli government from one of worlds biggest arms exhibitions

France has banned Israeli government officials from the Eurosatory arms exhibition in Paris. It will not allow Israel to host a national pavilion, and will only permit private Israeli defence companies to display “air-defense products”.

France’s defence ministry imposed a similar ban in 2024 over its genocide in Gaza. It said that Israeli companies would be limited to showing.

equipment and materials related to air defence ​and missile defence.

According to Reuters, over 2,600 exhibitors are expected to take part in this year’s event, which begins on June 15.

Of course, the Israeli government called it a “disgraceful decision”, claimed it was part of a “deeply troubling pattern”, and said that France was on the wrong side of history.

Because opposing genocide and murder is apparently being on the wrong side of history.

In response to the Israeli defence ministry statement, Charles Beaudouin, president of COGES Events, said:

Only Israeli exhibitors presenting anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems are authorised.

This is a decision by the French government, by the Defence Council

There is no room for ambiguity: if an exhibitor is also a rocket manufacturer, they will not be allowed to display them. This ensures that no offensive weapons are present.

What ceasefire?

On Sunday, May 31, France strongly condemned Israel’s illegal seizure of the medieval Beaufort castle in Lebanon and requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting.

Jerome Bonnafont, France’s ambassador to the UN, warned the Council that Israel’s expanding illegal invasion and attacks in Lebanon risked becoming a “major strategic mistake”. He urged all parties to “recommit” to the “fragile ceasefire agreement”. Of course, using the word ‘ceasefire’ at this point is ridiculous. 

Essentially, it means Iran and Hezbollah have to stop firing at Israel, but Israel can continue doing whatever it wants.

France – Israel

France was one of the first countries to recognise ‘Israel’ and establish diplomatic relations with the settler-colonial state. It has promoted a two-state solution, but it has also condemned the building of illegal settlements in the West Bank and called on Israel to comply with international law.

Over the last few years, France has slowly become more vocal in its condemnation of Israel’s actions.

In September 2025, France recognised Palestinian statehood. Israel retaliated by cutting French defence contracts, and now, France has banned Israel from Eurosatory.

France also banned Israel from the naval arms show, Euronaval, in 2024. Then, in 2025, it covered up Israeli displays at the Paris Air Show. The French government made the show’s organisers hide the booths with black panels after the Israeli defence ministry ignored the ban on Israeli offensive military equipment at the show.

According to Politico, only four of nine Israeli exhibitors complied with the rules. The companies that ignored them were Elbit, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, UVision, and Aeronautics. French officials said:

they will be able to exhibit once they respect the rules.

Both the Israeli government and private Israeli arms companies have shown time and time again that they cannot respect the rules. Whether it’s arms shows or international law. Yet they still want to play the eternal victim.

It says a lot when the organisations that literally profit from war, bombing and destruction are banning a genocidal settler-colony from an arms expo.

Wait for the claims that the arms expo booth was promised to them 3,000 years ago in 3,2,1…

Featured image via Kiran Ridley/Getty Images