Mark Smith, a former second secretary at the British Embassy in Ireland, has resigned from his position, citing serious concerns over alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Smith publicly shared his resignation letter, condemning the Israeli government’s actions and accusing the state of severe breaches of international humanitarian law.
In his resignation letter, Smith states, “Each day we witness clear and unquestionable examples of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza perpetuated by the state of Israel.” He further accuses Israeli officials of “expressing open genocidal intent” and claims that Israeli soldiers are involved in “deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property.”
Smith, who has a background in overseeing arms export licensing in the Middle East and North African Department, argues that the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel are unjustifiable. He criticizes the Foreign Office for its handling of concerns about these arms sales and the potential for them to be used in violations of international law. Smith reports having raised his concerns through official channels and a whistleblowing investigation but received only minimal responses.
The Israeli government, however, firmly denies any allegations of breaching international law and defends its military operations in Gaza as a legitimate response to the Hamas attack on October 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the accusations of war crimes and criticized international pressure, asserting that Israel will continue its operations to defend itself.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in connection with the alleged war crimes, but he has dismissed the charges as unfounded.
Smith’s resignation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the UK’s arms export policies. Since 2008, the UK has licensed arms worth over £576 million to Israel. The current government has been urged to review these licenses and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has stated its commitment to upholding international law and conducting reviews to prevent arms exports that could be used to facilitate serious violations.
Smith concludes his resignation letter with a call for historical reflection, expressing hope that future evaluations will reflect positively on the actions taken by the UK in this matter.