Over 300 UK Diplomats Warn Government of Gaza Complicity Over Arms Exports to Israel

Watan-The BBC reported Tuesday that over 300 staff members at the UK Foreign Office sent a letter last month to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressing deep concern over Britain’s potential complicity in Israel’s violations in Gaza. The diplomats criticized the continued export of weapons to Israel and what they described as the government’s blatant disregard for international law.

Senior Foreign Office officials responded by stating that those who “deeply oppose” government policies should consider resigning, describing it as a “honorable path.” This reply sparked widespread anger among staff, who saw it as shutting down internal debate and suppressing expressions of concern.

In response, the Foreign Office claimed that it has established channels for employees to voice concerns and insisted that the UK government is “strictly applying international law” in relation to the Gaza war. The official response was signed by Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer, two of the department’s top civil servants. They wrote:

“If your disagreement with any aspect of government policy or action becomes fundamental, your ultimate recourse is to resign from the civil service. That is an honorable course.”

One signatory described the response as “infuriating,” adding that many staff felt increasing frustration and disillusionment over the shrinking space for dissent. The letter, dated May 16, was signed by employees across a wide range of departments and foreign missions, including embassies. It warned that continued enforcement of current UK policies could expose staff to future legal accountability, especially if Britain is found in breach of its international obligations.

This was the fourth such internal letter since late 2023, signaling growing alarm within the UK government over the ramifications of its stance on Gaza. The letter cited Israel’s escalating violations, including the March killing of 15 aid workers and the suspension of all aid to Gaza, which humanitarian organizations described as using starvation as a weapon of war.

The diplomats also condemned ongoing UK arms exports to Israel, and the April visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to London despite allegations of his involvement in international law violations. They further highlighted Israeli plans, backed by the Trump administration, to forcibly displace Gaza’s population.

In response, the British government stated it had suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel since September 2024 due to a “clear risk” of misuse in serious violations. It confirmed halting shipments of F-35 fighter parts, bombs, and ammunition that could be used in Gaza. Still, critics argue that these steps fall short of full compliance.

One former official compared the government’s response to pre-Iraq War denial, warning of a repeat of the Chilcot Report failures, which emphasized the need for public servants to challenge dangerous policies.

Meanwhile, new documents revealed that UK company Pyrmoid Industries sent 16 shipments of “storage containers” exceeding 100 tons to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems since October 2023. This revelation raised alarms over the UK’s export controls during what many call an ongoing genocide in Gaza. According to British outlets Declassified UK and Ditch, a Durham-based engineering firm sent over 1,000 ammunition containers to Israel.

These disclosures suggest that Pyrmoid’s containers may have facilitated war crimes and crimes against humanity, exposing major loopholes in Britain’s arms export regulations. Declassified also previously reported that drone engines and triple weapon mounts were exempted from UK trade sanctions on Israel.