A FOREIGN Office official has resigned saying the government “may be complicit in war crimes” over its arms sales to Israel.

Mark Smith said that he had raised concerns “at every level” in the department only to receive nothing more than basic acknowledgements.

He sent his resignation email sent to hundreds of government officials, embassy staff and special advisers to Foreign Office ministers on Friday.

Mr Smith, who worked on counter terrorism based at the British embassy in Dublin, had previously worked in Middle East arms export licensing assessment for the government.

He said that “each day” colleagues were witnessing “clear and unquestionable examples” of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza.

“Senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open genocidal intent, Israeli soldiers take videos deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property,” he wrote.

“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.”

He said there was “no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel.”

Mr Smith also said that it was “deeply troubling” that the department had “disregarded” his concerns on the illegality of continued arms sales.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Foreign Secretary David Lammy had initiated a review “on day one in office” to assess whether Israel was complying with international humanitarian law.

A department spokesperson said: “This government is committed to upholding international law.

“We have made clear that we will not export items if they might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.”