LONDON

The Palestinian flag was raised over the mission in West London as the UK government formally recognized the state of Palestine.

At the ceremony held at the Palestinian Mission in London, Ambassador Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, marked a watershed moment in Britain's relationship with Palestine when the UK government formally recognized the state of Palestine.

The UK on Sunday officially recognized Palestine as a state, granting it the full legal rights and obligations of statehood.

The decision means Palestine will enjoy full diplomatic rights, and its mission will formally become an embassy.

Until now, the Palestinian Authority’s representation in the UK has operated as a diplomatic mission based in Hammersmith, west London, without embassy status.

Recognition will elevate it to an embassy, giving the delegation protections and privileges under the Vienna Convention.

“We are in front of the Palestinian mission to the UK here in London to mark a historic moment in the same capital of the Balfour Declaration. After more than a century of ongoing denial, disposition, and erasure, the UK government has finally taken the long-overdue step of recognizing the state of Palestine,” Zomlot declared.  

'Palestine exists. It has always existed, and it always will.'

He said the decision is not only about Palestine but also about Britain’s role in addressing its historical responsibility.

“This moment is not only about Palestine. It is also about Britain and the British government's solemn responsibility. It is about ending the denial of the Palestinian people's inalienable right to freedom and self-determination, and it is an acknowledgement of a historic injustice… ladies and gentlemen, Palestine exists. It has always existed, and it always will. Palestine will always exist in the hearts of our people and the millions of loving people in the world.”

Calling the recognition “not about affirming what we already know,” Zomlot framed it as an act of correcting the past: “It is about writing historic wrongs and committing together to a future based on freedom, dignity, and fundamental human rights.”

But he stressed that the recognition comes during what he described as a time of devastating suffering.

“Now, while we welcome this decision and acknowledge the gravity of this moment, we must remember that this recognition comes at a time of unimaginable pain and suffering as a genocide is being waged against us, a genocide that is still being denied and allowed to continue with impunity.

"It comes as our people in Gaza are being starved, bombed, and buried under the rubble of their homes, as our people in the West Bank are being ethnically cleansed and brutalized by daily state-sponsored terrorism, land theft, and suffocating oppression."

He continued: “It comes as the humanity of the Palestinian people is still questioned. Our lives are still treated as disposable, and our basic freedoms are still denied, and yet, this moment stands as a defiant act of truth, a refusal to let genocide be the final word, a refusal to accept that occupation is prominent, a refusal to be erased, and a refusal to be dehumanized.”  

More than symbolic

Zomlot described the recognition as more than symbolic, saying: "International recognition is more than just a diplomatic gesture."

"It is an acknowledgement that Palestine has always, always been, a land with a people, and what a people, rooted in history, proud traditions and unshakable resolve, a people whose resilience and courage are unmatched, a people who are not only on the defense resisting erasure, but who are also on the offense building a future. We are not merely surviving. We are preparing for our inevitable liberation.”

He emphasized Palestinians’ determination to build a future beyond conflict: “We are preparing to thrive as farmers, as teachers, as builders, and as healers. To understand our culture, my friend, to understand our heritage, you need not look further than our love of education, the key to a bright and promising future."

Zomlot also acknowledged the long campaign that led to this recognition. “This, my friends, would not have been possible without every single one of you. And I know how everyone has been working towards this moment, not only in the last months, but over years, but for decades.”

He reserved particular thanks for public support in Britain. “So to the people of Britain, to the great people of Britain, the millions who have been marching in the streets week after week, month after month, who turned London into the epicenter of the global movement for Palestine; to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, who chose principles over politics; to the unions, the students, the faith leaders, the doctors, and the members of Parliament who raised their voices. We thank you. We will always remember how you stood by our side on the right side of history.”  

'Recognition alone will not end the war'

British Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer framed the announcement as both a statement of principle and a rejection of extremism.

“This is a landmark decision. It reflects the UK's enduring support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination… It sends a clear message that lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis depends on a two-state solution as Palestinian statehood,” he said.

Falconer warned that the vision of two states “is at risk of being destroyed by appalling violence and hunger by the relentless expansion of settlements and attacks in the West Bank.”

He criticized the Israeli government’s conduct, saying: “Despite the strongest demands of the UK and many others, the Israeli government has plunged deeper into a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and pushed Gaza into famine. This conflict can never be solved by force.”

The minister also condemned the blockade of humanitarian aid, describing it as “indefensible.”

Falconer stressed that recognition of Palestinian statehood is not an abandonment of the UK’s relationship with Israel.

“Let me be clear, recognition is not abandoning our support for Israel. Palestinian statehood can open new relationships, regional cooperation, normalization, and peaceful coexistence that is impossible, though, while the horrors in Gaza continue, and while even the idea of a Palestinian state is rejected by the Israeli government.”

He framed the decision as rooted in Britain’s historic responsibilities. Referring to the Balfour Declaration, Falconer said: “The Balfour Declaration came with the promise that nothing shall be done—nothing that may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian people—that has not been upheld. Yesterday's announcement cements this labor government's long-standing commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people.”

Acknowledging that recognition alone cannot end the crisis, Falconer noted: “I know that recognition alone will not end the war or remove the indignities of occupation the Palestinians face every day: violence, hunger, displacement, crippling, and financial and movement restrictions.

"But our wish is that our decision can offer hope, that it can create momentum for a real purpose, a vital part of a broader push for a just and lasting peace.”

The minister concluded with a call for urgent steps to ease the suffering: “We need a ceasefire now. We need hostages released. We need Hamas to be disarmed. We need the barriers lifted so aid can reach those in desperate need. And we need a path to long-term peace.”

Türkiye's Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertas said he is experiencing one of the most important days of his diplomatic career at the ceremony.

Highlighting that the UK’s recognition of the State of Palestine is a significant step for the Palestinian cause, Ertas said: “Given Britain’s historical responsibility in the Palestinian cause, despite domestic debates, they took a serious decision under the leadership of the prime minister. Although delayed, it was an important decision for the Palestinian cause.”

Describing the day as “a new beginning,” Ertas added: “For this recognition to materialize, we as Turkish diplomacy have long been making great efforts. Both within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and together with countries in the region, we have been intensively pursuing these initiatives with the United Kingdom and other countries for a long time.”