Mark Smith, a British Foreign Office official, resigned in protest against the UK's arms sales to Israel, claiming that the government may be complicit in war crimes.

In his resignation email, which was widely shared among government officials, Smith detailed his concerns about the UK's compliance with international law and highlighted examples of alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.

Smith criticized the UK's arms export licensing regime, arguing that it is not as robust and transparent as government ministers claim.

He expressed sadness over his decision, stating he could no longer work with a government he believes is involved in war crimes.

The UK is currently undergoing a judicial review regarding its arms sales policy and whether it has acted improperly by not banning arms sales to Israel.

Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has denied any violations of international law, asserting that its military actions are aimed at specific military objectives.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement, with dire warnings of famine and disease outbreaks.

Despite claims of a robust arms export licensing regime, Smith argued that the reality is quite the opposite, with ongoing sales contributing to the humanitarian crisis.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, praised Smith's resignation as courageous and expressed hope for further diplomatic action.

Smith's resignation comes amid ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, which he claims exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

With experience as a policy advisor in the Middle East, Smith had raised concerns through official channels but felt his warnings were largely ignored.

An FCDO spokesperson reiterated the government's commitment to international law, mentioning an ongoing review process regarding Israel's compliance.