UK civil servants overseeing arms sales to Israel demand to 'cease work immediately'

The UK civil servants union has said that it is "seriously considering" taking legal action to prevent its members who oversee arms exports to Israel "from being forced to carry out unlawful acts". 

According to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents civil servants, their members have requested that they "cease work immediately" on tasks related to export licences to Israel over fears that they may be liable if Israel is deemed to have broken international law.

In a letter to the Department of Business and Trade on Wednesday, PCS said: "Given the implications for our members we believe there are ample grounds to immediately suspend all such work."

The union requested an urgent meeting with the department to discuss "the legal jeopardy faced by civil servants who are continuing to work on this policy".

READ MORE: UK civil servants overseeing arms sales to Israel demand to 'cease work immediately'