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Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi has resigned saying she can no longer support the Government’s stance on Gaza. Lady Warsi, who is also Minister for Faith and Communities, announced her departure on Twitter, where she has been increasingly vocal in her condemnation of Israel’s actions.

At 9.10am on Tuesday, she posted: “With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister &  tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza.”

Lady Warsi 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 is considered a huge asset to the party having played a significant part in the 2010 campaign.

Her resignation will intensify the already significant pressure on David Cameron to be firmer in his condemnation of Israel as the bloody conflict nears its first month.

On Sunday the United Nations condemned an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza, where refugees from the violence were sheltering, killing at least 10 people.

The UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon called the attack “a moral outrage and a criminal act”.

However, Mr Cameron would not be drawn on Monday to back the UN’s position saying only it was “an appalling loss of life”.

Lady Warsi’s opposition to Israel’s actions has been clear from her Twitter posts. 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”.

Speaking on LBC radio Boris Johnson said he was “very sad” at the news and he hoped she would return to Government soon.

He said: “I have very great respect for Sayeeda she has done a great job for us and I hope she will be back as soon as possible,”

The number of Palestinians killed in “Operation Protective Edge” – Israel’s action against Hamas in Gaza – has reached 1,800, most of whom have been civilians. Around 66 Israelis have died, most of whom have been soldiers.

The UN has already said Israel could be guilty of war crimes.-Sky News