Mark Smith, listed as a second secretary in the United Kingdom’s embassy in the Republic of Ireland, wrote in a resignation letter to colleagues that was posted online that members of the Israeli government and military have expressed “open genocidal intent”.
Smith also said that it was “deeply troubling” that the department had “disregarded” his concerns on what he termed the “illegality of continued arms sales“.
In a letter to colleagues, he wrote: “It is with sadness that I resign after a long career in the diplomatic service, however I can no longer carry out my duties in the knowledge that this Department may be complicit in war crimes.”
Smith said he is a former penholder on the arms export licensing assessment in the Middle East and North African Department, experience he said makes him a “subject matter expert” on arms sales policy.
“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,” Smith said.
Source: AlJazeera
