Update on the Diplomats' protest over Gaza

Solidarity for standing up for the right thing!

I'm glad to see that this post (and the identical substack post) has reached various of the FCDO (UK foreign office) officials who signed the protest letter about UK policy on Gaza. To them I say, you are doing the right thing. The higher-ups who are defending that shameful policy are not. They are complicit in genocide. One day I would like to see them prosecuted.

Meanwhile I'm told that the signatories are fearful of being punished by the FCDO, some of being fired. I hope the unions are helping with legal advice. I am sorry what officials with a conscience have to go through to protest complicity in the worst of crimes. They are bullied and intimidated for standing up for legality, human life and against unmitigated slaughter. Shame on Foreign Secretary Lammy and the senior officials involved. History will judge them for what they have done.

The protestors must now respond to the FCDO's pathetic and bullying reply by citing chapter and verse - and multiple authoritative opinions - on the illegality of Israel's actions and thus the UK's complicity in those illegal actions. The ICJ has been very clear about what Israel had to do to prevent genocide. It has not done those things. In fact, in the deliberate starvation of the Palestinian population, they have done the opposite (and announced it!). This is not contestable and does not need a lawyer to interpret. Complicity in genocide is a war crime. The Genocide Convention places an obligation on other states to STOP genocide, not go along with it.

They must also cite government pronouncements on the rights of civil servants to raise concerns about the legality of British policy. Quote the PM for instance after the Chilcot Report was published.

The protestors should stick together. There is strength in their numbers. They should also use the press. The majority of the public is on their side in their horror at Israel's blatant crimes and our government's complicity in them. This needs to become a national debate and scandal as the lies and illegality of the Iraq War became. Use that public power to fight back.

Again if any of those involved wish to contact me, please let me know and we can communicate on Signal. But above all, take heart. You are right and they are wrong. I realise this is hard. I have been through it - but when you look back on this episode, you will be so glad you were on the right side. Those who remained silent in the face of mass killings of civilians will by contrast be ashamed. My former ambassador, who promoted the Iraq invasion at the UN, is furious with me for trashing his reputation by implication. Good. May he hang his head.

I'd also be interested to know if other diplomatic colleagues in the foreign services of other countries have gone through this and what tactics they may have used. Again, please let me know and we can speak on signal.