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MEDIA RELEASE: Protesters vow arms dealers will not dine in peace at swanky industry dinner

The people attending this dinner are dining on the profits of genocide. This disgusting event is nothing more than a lobbying opportunity for war criminals.

Event details:

Tuesday 28th January, 6pm

JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, 86-90 Park Lane, London W1K 7TN

  • Protesters vow that arms dealers and politicians will not dine in peace at their £265-£540 a head annual dinner. Organised by the ADS group, the dinner is a prestigious lobbying and networking event for many of the companies complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
  • Event sponsors include companies directly complicit in Israel’s genocide including BAE Systems and Babcock. BAE Systems is the lead partner in the F-35 combat aircraft programme. The UK makes 15% of every F-35 Israel used to drop 2000lb bombs on Gaza. The F-35 license was exempted from Labour’s partial arms suspension despite evidence that Israel used F-35s to commit war crimes.
  • In 2024, the ADS dinner was attended by over 1200 people, including 40+ members of parliament, eight government ministers, opposition front benchers, and international delegations.  Also in attendance was arms trade lobbyist and so-called ‘independent’ government advisor on political violence and disruption, Lord Walney aka John Woodcock. Walney complained to GB News in 2024 that attendees had to “run the gauntlet” of protesters to attend the event.

Emily Apple, Campaign Against Arms Trade’s Media Coordinator, said:

“The people attending this dinner are dining on the profits of genocide. This disgusting event is nothing more than a lobbying opportunity for war criminals. These arms dealers are merchants of death, fuelling conflict worldwide, in order to line their pockets.

“The contacts and conversations that happen at events like this lead to deadly consequences and our protest will ensure that those attending have to confront the reality of these murderous deals.”

CAAT would not exist without its supporters. Each new supporter helps us strengthen our call for an end to the international arms trade.

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