Calling the British government's approach toward violence in Gaza as "morally indefensible," a senior minister in Britain's Foreign Office, Sayeeda Warsi, resigned Tuesday.
Warsi is the first female Muslim and third Muslim to serve as a minister in the United Kingdom, despite never winning an election. She took the minister's chair after Prime Minister David Cameron assumed office in 2010.
The resignation comes amid criticism by political opponents who questioned Cameron's hesitation to condemn Israel's actions. The British government had repeatedly called for ceasefire in Gaza, where at least 1,865 Palestinians have been killed in Israel airstrikes from July 8.
"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," Warsi wrote in her resignation letter that she tweeted.
Reuters reports that Warsi's resignation is embarrassing for Cameron, who is accused of appointing too many middle-class white males in the government. Despite Warsi not being a full cabinet member, she had the right to attend and acted as a bridge between the government and Britain's Muslim community.
"Baroness Warsi's resignation reflects the unease and anxiety in Parliament and in the country about the U.K. government's present position (on conflict in Gaza)", said Sir Menzies Campbell, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats, a junior partner in the governing coalition, reports The New York Times.
Echoing a similar opinion, Chancellor George Osborne said that the Warsi's resignation was "disappointing and frankly unnecessary."
Cameron thanked Warsi for her "excellent work" and said he was seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" in Gaza.
