The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly blocked Israel from taking part in a defense conference scheduled to take place in Dubai next month, Israeli media outlets reported on Wednesday.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s Defense Ministry was informed that Israeli firms would not be allowed to attend, with the decision also conveyed directly to company representatives.
While security concerns were cited in explanations given to industry figures, Israeli officials said the decision was linked to Israel’s strike on Tuesday targeting Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.
The UAE has not issued any official statement regarding the reported ban.
On Tuesday, Israel conducted its first strike on Qatari territory, hitting the residences of Hamas political leaders in Doha. The attack came while Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, was mediating indirect ceasefire talks.
Qatar condemned the strike as a “cowardly act” and a violation of international law, warning that it would not tolerate what it described as Israel’s “reckless behavior.”
Hamas confirmed that its political leadership survived the strike, which killed five of its members.
Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians, according to local authorities. The campaign has devastated the territory and pushed its population to the brink of famine.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.