• Over 300 UK Foreign Office staff urged to resign if they disagree with Gaza policy.
• Concerns raised about potential UK complicity in Israel's actions and humanitarian law violations.
• The government insists it has applied international law rigorously.
• Senior officials suggested resignation as an 'honourable course' for dissenters.
• The Civil Service faces internal friction over the Gaza policy amid rising civilian casualties.

More than 300 staff from the UK Foreign Office expressed deep concern regarding potential UK "complicity" in Israel’s actions in Gaza, and were subsequently told that they could resign if they profoundly disagreed with government policy. This admonition followed a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, outlining grievances about ongoing arms sales to Israel and a "stark… disregard for international law," according to BBC.

The contentious letter, dated May 16, also highlighted the killing of humanitarian workers and restrictions on aid to Gaza, reflecting a growing unease among civil servants about their roles amid escalating civilian casualties in the conflict. This marks at least the fourth such communication from Foreign Office staff since late 2023, according to Middle East Eye and AA.

The response from senior officials Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer emphasized that civil servants must adhere to government policies and suggested that resignation is an "honourable course" for those with serious objections. This guidance has sparked outrage among some of the letter's signatories, who expressed disappointment over the diminishing space for internal dissent, according to multiple sources including Middle East Eye and AA.

Critics have accused the Foreign Office response of being mere "obfuscation," enabling a veneer of plausible deniability regarding breaches of international law. The UK government has stated that it rigorously applies international law and that systems are in place for staff to express their concerns, as reiterated in statements from BBC and Middle East Eye.

In light of the ongoing tensions and significant public scrutiny, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has suspended around 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing concerns over potential violations of human rights. Additionally, the UK has collaborated with France and Canada in threatening "concrete actions" if Israel fails to cease its military operations and alleviate aid restrictions in Gaza, as reported by AA and BBC.