A British civil servant resigns over concerns that govt is complicit in Israeli war crimes in Gaza

LONDON, Aug 18 (SABAH): A British civil servant has resigned over concerns that the government is complicit in Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

According to media reports, a senior official in the department sent an email to staff after Smith’s resignation, saying their concerns were heard and a listening session would be held soon. The Foreign Office declined to comment.

The resignation letter by diplomat Mark Smith first emerged when prominent journalist Hind Hassan posted its contents on X. “It is with sadness that I resign after a long career in the diplomatic service, however I can no longer carry out my duties in the knowledge that this Department may be complicit in war crimes,” the letter says.

The letter continues by saying its author was a former penholder involved in the arms exports licensing assessment process in the Middle East and North African Department and therefore “a subject matter expert in the domain of armed sales policy”.

“There is no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel yet somehow it continues,” the letter says.

“I have raised this at every level in the organisation, including through an official whistle blowing investigation and received nothing more than ‘thank you we have noted your concern’.”

The writer says being disregarded in this way “is deeply troubling. It is my duty as a public servant to raise this”. It concludes with a call to officials “to join the many colleagues who have also raised concerns over this issue”.

The letter by the first known British official to resign over Israel’s war on Gaza attracted widespread support online.

‘I hope that more diplomats will follow the brave lead of Mark Smith and speak up against the enablers of Israel’s atrocities’