Foreign Office Minister Warsi Resigns Over Gaza

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi has resigned saying she was not sure she could live with herself if she did not make a stand over Gaza.

Lady Warsi said in her resignation letter that the Government's "approach and language" during the month-long conflict in Gaza has been "morally indefensible".

And she added: "I always said long after life in politics I must be able to stand by the decisions I took or the decisions I supported. By staying in Government at this time I do not feel I can be sure of that."

In a caustic appraisal of Mr Cameron's policy on the Middle East Peace Process she says it has caused significant damage to Britain's international standing.

Baroness Warsi's resignation is a significant blow

Her resignation is a serious blow to the Conservatives and will intensify pressure on David Cameron, who is out of the country on holiday, to be firmer in his condemnation of Israel.

In his response, the Prime Minister said he regretted her decision, but understood her "strength of feeling on the current crisis in the Middle East".

He said the Government supports Israel's right to defend itself, while consistently making clear its "grave concerns" over civilian casualties.

Lady Warsi is considered an asset to the Tories and has been a prominent member of David Cameron's Government, becoming the first Muslim to sit in the Cabinet. She was Conservative Party chairman and played a large part in the 2010 campaign.

Lady Warsi announced her resignation on Twitter

She wrote in her resignation letter: "My view has been that our policy in relation to the Middle East Peace Process generally but more recently our approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible, is not in Britain's national interest and will have a long term detrimental impact on our reputation internationally and domestically."

Lady Warsi said there was also concern in the Foreign Office about the departure of William Hague as Foreign Secretary - he has been replaced by Philip Hammond - and the "way recent decisions have been made".

She announced her departure on Twitter, where she has been increasingly vocal in her condemnation of Israel's actions. Eleven days ago she wrote: "Can people stop trying to justify the killing of children. Whatever our politics there can never be justification, surely only regret #Gaza."

She has posted a number of tweets condeming Israel's actions

It follows Mr Cameron's failure on Monday to back the United Nations' position over the shelling of a UN-run school where Palestinian refugees were sheltering from the violence, killing at least 10 people.

The UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon called the attack "a moral outrage and a criminal act". When asked, Mr Cameron would say only that it was "an appalling loss of life".

There has also been increasing criticism over the £42m of arms exports licences British defence manufacturers have with Israel since 2010 to supply ammunition, drones and armoured vehicles.

Lady Warsi has condemned the attacks that have killed and injured children

The equipment has been used in the attacks on Gaza and the Government has agreed to review the licences.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said Baroness Warsi's decision to step down was a "sad reflection of the Prime Minister's misjudgment of the crisis in Gaza that this capable minister has felt the need to leave the Government".

Chancellor George Osborne has said her resignation was "disappointing and frankly unnecessary".

The number of Palestinians killed in "Operation Protective Edge" - Israel's action against Hamas in Gaza - has reached 1,880, most of whom have been civilians. Around 66 Israelis have died, most of whom have been soldiers.

Lady Warsi's highly critical resignation letter

Lady Warsi also took the opportunity in her letter to Mr Cameron to deliver a highly critical appraisal of his recent reshuffle saying that in recent weeks the "experience and expertise" of Dominic Grieve and Ken Clarke had been "very apparent".

Both had opposed Tory plans to limit the power of the European Court Of Human Rights in the UK in a move which could see Britain expelled from the Council of Europe which upholds the European Convention on Human Rights.

:: After our Twitter Q&A yesterday with Palestinian teenager Farah Baker, Sky News held a similar Q&A with someone on the Israeli side - schoolteacher Adele Raemer, who lives 2km from the border with Gaza. 

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