Last week, longstanding British diplomat Mark Smith resigned from his role at the Foreign Office, accusing the state department of being complicit in Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
With his insider knowledge and experience in the field of UK arms exports and sales, Smith is well-placed to know the extent of the British government’s support for Netanyahu’s genocidal regime.
In his explosive resignation letter, the former Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) civil servant asserts that his ex-employers have been party to “unquestionable examples of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law” by the Israeli state.
This confirms – straight from the horse’s mouth – what millions have known from day one: that ‘our’ imperialist ruling class has blood on its hands. And this is true of the entire British establishment, including both the previous Tory government and Starmer’s Labour.
Smith also states, however, that his whistleblowing efforts have been met with a deafening silence from senior Whitehall officials, who will no doubt be keen to bury this story.
Communists, in contrast, have a revolutionary duty to tell the truth. That is why we are publishing Smith’s letter in full below – to shine a light on the murderous role played by the warmongers in Westminster in the slaughter of the Palestinian people.
We say: Kick out the war criminals! Down with imperialism! Fight for world revolution!
Full resignation letter from FCDO British diplomat Mark Smith: pic.twitter.com/k9y7varCHC
— Hind Hassan (@HindHassanNews) August 16, 2024
FCDO complicity in War Crimes
I write to you on my last day in the FCDO with a message I never wanted to send. 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.
As former penholder on the arms exports licensing assessment in MENAD, I am a subject matter expert in the domain of armed sales policy. Each day we witness clear and unquestionable examples of War Crimes and breaches of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza perpetrated by the State of Israel.
Senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open genocidal intent, Israeli soldiers take videos, deliberately burning destroying, and looting civilian property and openly admit to the rape and torture of prisoners.
Over half of Gaza’s homes and over 80% of commercial properties have been damaged or destroyed. Whole streets and universities have been demolished, humanitarian aid is being blocked and civilians are regularly left with no safe quarter to flee to. Red Crescent ambulances have been attacked, schools and hospitals are regularly targeted. These are War Crimes.
There is no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel yet somehow it continues. I have raised this at every level in the organisation including through an official whistle blowing investigation and received nothing more than “thank you we have noted your concerns”.
Ministers claim that the UK has one of the most “robust and transparent” arms export licensing regimes in the world, however this is the opposite of the truth. As a fully cleared officer raising serious concerns of illegality in this Department, to be disregarded in this way is deeply troubling.
It is my duty as a public servant to raise this.
I urge you as officers of good conscience to join the many colleagues who have also raised concerns over this issue.
The FCDO has some of the most brilliant, hard-working and good-hearted people I have ever known and I have been proud to work alongside you.
I hope that we can look back on history and be proud.
Best regards,
Mark
