Mark Smith, an official in the British Foreign Office,

has resigned in protest at the continued arms sales

by the British government to the state of Israel.

This matters.

It matters a lot.

In his letter of resignation, first revealed by the journalist Hind Hassan he declared he could no longer carry out his duties in the knowledge that this department may be complicit in war crimes. He says he's a former penholder on the Arms Exports Licensing

Assessment in Menad, that's the Middle East and North Africa

Directorate, and says he's a subject matter expert

in the domain of arms sales policies.

He says specifically 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.

He adds that senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open

genocidal intent, adds further Israeli soldiers take videos, deliberately burning and

destroying and looting civilian properties, and openly admitting to the rape and torture of prisoners.

He goes on to highlight that over half of Gaza's homes and over 80% of commercial properties

have been damaged and destroyed, that whole streets and universities have been demolished,

humanitarian aid is being blocked, civilians left with no safe quarters of flee to.

He notes that Red Crescent Ambulance has been attacked, schools and hospitals are regularly targeted,

summing up, these are war crimes.

He goes on, there is no justification for the UK's continued arms sales to Israel

and yet somehow it continues.

He says he's raised it at every level of the foreign office, including through an official

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