More than 300 Foreign Office officials who expressed grave concerns about potential UK complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza were told that resignation was the “honourable course” if they fundamentally disagreed with government policy.
A letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, seen by the BBC, was submitted in May and challenged the UK’s ongoing arms sales to Israel.
The officials condemned what they described as Israel’s “stark disregard for international law” and questioned the ethical implications of Britain’s continued support.
The Foreign Office responded by insisting it had “rigorously applied international law” and had mechanisms for staff to raise concerns.
The official reply, issued on 29 May by the department’s top civil servants Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer, underscored that those unable to reconcile with government policy had the option to step down from their roles.
“If your disagreement with any aspect of government policy or action is profound, your ultimate recourse is to resign from the Civil Service. This is an honourable course,” the response read.
The reply provoked anger among some signatories. One official, speaking anonymously, said the reaction highlighted “a shrinking space for challenge” and left staff feeling disillusioned.
The 16 May letter marked at least the fourth formal communication from concerned diplomats and civil servants since late 2023. Signatories reportedly span a wide spectrum of expertise across UK embassies, missions, and departments both domestically and abroad.
Among the key issues raised were the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza, the Israeli government’s restrictions on humanitarian aid, and ongoing settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The officials also expressed unease over the UK’s failure to act on repeated internal warnings, raising fears that civil servants involved in policy implementation might face legal risks in future international proceedings.
The letter referenced recent incidents, including the killing of 15 humanitarian workers by Israeli forces in March and the temporary suspension of all aid to Gaza. It stated these developments had led to accusations that Israel was “using starvation as a weapon of war”.
It also criticised the UK government’s continued defence exports to Israel and the welcoming of Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar to London in April, despite international legal concerns. The officials noted: “Supported by the Trump administration, the Israeli government has made explicit plans for the forcible transfer of Gaza’s population.”
While Robbins and Dyer acknowledged the importance of “healthy challenge” in policymaking and highlighted the introduction of a bespoke Challenge Board and staff listening sessions, they reiterated that upholding government policy remained a core duty of civil servants.
They reminded staff that “the bargain at the heart of the British Civil Service” is to implement the policies of the elected government, “within the limits imposed by the law and the Civil Service Code.”
A former senior official criticised the response as evasive, stating that it granted the government “plausible deniability” for potential breaches of international law. The former staffer also drew parallels to the 2016 Chilcot Report into the Iraq war, which emphasised the importance of allowing civil servants to challenge groupthink.
The UK government maintains that Israel is “at risk” of breaching humanitarian law. Israel, meanwhile, insists it operates within international legal frameworks.
Human rights organisations and Palestinian advocacy groups have presented evidence to international courts disputing Israel’s claims.
In September 2024, Foreign Secretary Lammy suspended around 30 export licences to Israel—out of approximately 350—due to the “clear risk” of their use in violations of international humanitarian law.
This came shortly before the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, alongside Hamas’s military leadership.
The UK has halted direct exports of F-35 components and confirmed it does not export bombs or ammunition that could be used in Gaza.
