Foreign Office says staff should resign if they disagree ‘profoundly’ over Gaza

WorldPolitics
10 Jun 2025 • 4:57 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • About 300 Foreign Office staff members sent a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressing concerns about Israel's conduct in Gaza, citing potential UK complicity in international law violations.
  • The letter raised concerns about continued UK arms sales to Israel, referencing the killing of aid workers and the blockade on aid into Gaza.
  • Senior Foreign Office officials Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer responded by stating that civil servants profoundly disagreeing with government policy should resign.
  • The officials emphasized the need for a "healthy challenge" to policy but stressed civil servants' duty to implement the government's agenda.
  • The Foreign Office stated that it rigorously applies international law regarding the conflict in Gaza, having suspended some arms export licenses and halting negotiations on a free trade agreement.

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