Responding to news that civil servants should consider resigning if they disagree with government policy on Gaza, Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, stated:

“It’s deeply troubling that Foreign Office staff raising legitimate human rights concerns about the UK’s role in Gaza are being told to consider resignation as a response.

“This sends a chilling message to civil servants - and to the wider public - that principled dissent on matters of international law and human rights is unwelcome in Government.

“The concerns raised by staff about arms exports, the killing of aid workers, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza are not only justified, but they also reflect widespread public concern and are grounded in the UK’s legal obligations under international law.

“Suppressing internal scrutiny does not make these concerns disappear. On the contrary, it raises urgent questions about the UK’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law. Civil servants should be empowered not silenced when they speak truth to power about potential complicity in serious human rights violations.

“The Government must do more than acknowledge these concerns behind closed doors. It must urgently suspend all arms transfers to Israel that risk being used to commit war crimes and ensure full transparency over its decision-making.

“Now more than ever, courage and clarity are needed from all parts of government. A commitment to human rights should not be a resignation issue, it should be a guiding principle.”