UK Foreign Office Staff Threatened with Dismissal Over Gaza Support
According to webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Mayadeen, over 300 UK foreign Office employees who expressed concerns about Britain’s potential complicity with Zionist actions in Gaza were told they could consider resigning if they fundamentally oppose government policies.
The warning came after these staff members wrote last month to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, questioning the continued UK arms sales and what they described as “the Zionist regime’s blatant disregard for international law.”
In response, the Foreign Office confirmed it has systems for employees to raise concerns but maintained that the government has strictly applied international law regarding the Gaza war.
Senior officials Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer responded by telling signatories: “If you profoundly disagree with any aspect of government policy or action, your ultimate recourse is resignation from public service. This is an honorable course.”
A signatory who spoke anonymously said the reply sparked anger: “There’s deep frustration at shrinking space for dissent,” adding that the letter reflected civilian casualties in Gaza, Israeli restrictions on aid, settlement expansion in occupied territories (West Bank), and settler violence.
The May 16-signed letter marks at least the fourth such document sent by concerned officials since late 2023.
