UK foreign ministry staff warn of ‘complicity’ in Gaza
More than 300 civil servants at Britain's foreign ministry have written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressing concerns about Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, the BBC reported Tuesday.
The officials warned of potential UK "complicity" in what they called "Israel's violations of international humanitarian law" during the conflict in the Palestinian territory.
The letter dated May 16 questioned the continuation of some UK arms sales to the country, according to the broadcaster.
"In July 2024, staff expressed concern about Israel's violations of international humanitarian law and potential UK government complicity," the staff wrote, according to excerpts cited by the BBC.
"In the intervening period, the reality of Israel's disregard for international law has become more stark," they added, citing the killing of humanitarian workers, restrictions on international aid and violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
The letter added the UK government had contributed to "the erosion of global norms", including through weapons exports, the broadcaster reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government suspended some 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel in September 2024, citing a "risk" they could be used in violations of international law.
London has also sanctioned settlers in the West Bank and suspended negotiations on a free trade agreement with Israel.
But it continues to supply components for F-35 fighter jets to a global pool that Israel is able to access.
"Since day one, this government has rigorously applied international law in relation to the war in Gaza," a Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP.
The BBC reported that the two most senior officials in the FCDO replied to the letter by saying the signatories could "resign" if they disagreed with government policy.