Foreign Office official explains why he resigned
Mark Smith speaks to the World At One's Sarah Montague
More than 300 Foreign Office staff who raised concerns about potential UK "complicity" in Israel's conduct in Gaza were told if they profoundly disagreed with government policy they could consider resigning.
Former FCDO official Mark Smith, who resigned in August 2024 in protest over the sale of arms to Israel, says he "wasn't surprised" at the number of former colleagues who had signed the letter.
Speaking to the World At One's Sarah Montague, he said: "I'm just pleased that people have been able to come together.
"I think this whole conversation about what's in scope and what not is really a red herring.
"There is a genocide going on. We should be well beyond that conversation."
Sarah also spoke to diplomatic correspondent James Landale.
The UK government has since sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for their comments about Gaza.
