Chile has said it will exclude Israeli firms from Latin America’s biggest aerospace fair, to be held in Santiago in April, AFP reports.

“By decision of the Government of Chile, the 2024 version of the International Air and Space Fair (Fidae), to be held between 9 and 14 April, will not have the participation of Israeli companies,” a defense ministry statement said.

It did not give a reason, but the government of leftist President Gabriel Boric has been critical of what he has called Israel’s “disproportionate” response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Chile, which has the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world, recalled its ambassador to Israel late October to protest Israel’s “unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law” in Gaza.

Israel’s ambassador in Chile Gil Artzyeli told AFP on Tuesday he had not been contacted by the government with the Fidae news. “We cannot say we are surprised taking into account the (Chilean) government’s doctrine towards Israel,” he said.