A British Foreign Office official, Mark Smith, who worked on counterterrorism, has resigned in protest against the UK government’s arms sales to Israel,
expressing concerns that the UK "may be complicit in war crimes."
In an email sent to colleagues on Friday, Smith stated that he had raised his concerns "at every level" within the Foreign Office, including through an official whistleblowing mechanism, but received only basic acknowledgments in response. Smith, who was stationed at the British Embassy in Dublin, detailed his objections in a widely distributed resignation email seen by the BBC, which reached hundreds of government officials, embassy staff, and special advisors.
Smith, who previously worked in arms export licensing for the Middle East, criticized the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel. He cited numerous instances of what he described as "clear and unquestionable examples" of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, including attacks on civilian property, humanitarian aid blockades, and targeted assaults on ambulances, schools, and hospitals.
Smith argued that the UK’s arms export policies were not as "robust and transparent" as claimed by government ministers and expressed his deep concern over the lack of serious consideration given to his warnings about potential illegality in the Department.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) did not comment on Smith’s individual case but reiterated that the government is committed to upholding international law. A spokesperson noted that Foreign Secretary David Lammy had initiated a review on his first day in office to assess whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law.
Since 2008, the UK has granted licenses for weapons exports to Israel worth £574 million ($727 million), though the government has recently downplayed the scale of these supplies, describing them as "relatively small" at £42 million ($53 million) in 2022. Israel has consistently denied breaching international humanitarian law, asserting that its actions in Gaza are directed against Hamas, which it describes as "a genocidal terrorist organization."
Smith’s resignation is a rare instance of public dissent within the British government regarding its policy toward Israel, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The review initiated by Lammy will continue to assess Israel's compliance with international law, with updates expected once the process is completed. Photo by https://www.flickr.com/people/45644610@N03, Wikimedia commons.