Foreign Office staff told to consider resigning if they disagree over Gaza
- More than 300 Foreign Office staff based in the UK and abroad sent a letter on May 16 raising concerns about UK arms sales and complicity with Israel in Gaza.
- The letter followed previous missives since late 2023 and cited Israel's secret April visit to London by foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar and rising weapon exports in late 2024 as background causes.
- Staff criticized UK Government policy supporting arms exports including F-35 parts despite Israel’s actions risking breaches of international law and highlighted concern about humanitarian impacts.
- Senior civil servants responded that it was their responsibility to implement government policy and suggested that if staff found themselves in deep disagreement with official decisions, the appropriate course of action would be to leave the Civil Service, a statement that sparked anger among employees.
- The episode underscores tensions within the Civil Service over Gaza policy, illustrating concerns about complicity in international law violations and the honorable role of resignation for profound disagreement.
33 Articles
33 Articles
UK tells civil servants to resign if they disagree on Gaza war policy
More than 300 Foreign Service personnel had sent a letter protesting support for Israel, alleging that it “disregards” international law. By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News The UK’s Foreign Office has told more than 300 personnel that they can “honorably resign” if they disagree with the government’s Gaza war policy. The staff members, in London and in UK embassies and delegations around the world in senior and junior positions, had sent an i…
UK Foreign Office staff told to resign if they disagree on Gaza
Two senior foreign office officials told staff they should consider resigning if they fundamentally disagreed with UK policy on Gaza, after more than 300 civil servants raised alarm over the government’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged Palestinian enclave. The letter, seen by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in May, warned that the UK risks being complicit in violations of international law. Staff cited arms sales to Israel, …
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