Dubai Air Chiefs' Conference Avoids Discussing Ongoing Israel-Hamas War
Conference sponsored by Israeli defense manufacturer amidst growing anger in Arab world over civilian casualties; Gulf Arab states continue significant spending on weapons imports.
- The Dubai International Air Chiefs’ Conference, sponsored by Israeli defense manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., avoided discussing the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, despite the conflict's high civilian casualty rate.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to maintain diplomatic ties with Israel, even amidst growing anger in the Arab world over the civilian casualties from Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.
- Gulf Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been major clients of the arms industry, spending billions on sophisticated fighter jets and missile defense systems over the past decades.
- In the past 10 years alone, Saudi Arabia has spent more than $28 billion on weapons imports, the second-highest in the world behind only India, while Qatar and the UAE have spent over $11 billion and $10 billion respectively.
- The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, has resulted in the deaths of more than 11,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of whom are women and minors, according to the Hamas-overseen Health Ministry.
Washington Post 
Associated Press 
