LONDON

For the first time in history, the Palestinian flag was raised over the mission in West London as the UK government formally recognized the state of Palestine.

The ceremony at the Palestinian Mission in London on Monday was a moment of pride, reflection, and intergenerational memory—yet it came against the backdrop of ongoing violence and an urgent call for action.

Following the ceremony, key figures spoke with Anadolu about the significance of this recognition, striking a balance between celebration and reality on the ground.

'Right to self-determination is inalienable'

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, welcomed the recognition with caution, saying: “This is an event as a Palestinian and as the director of PSC that I can give one cheer to, but not three cheers.”

He stressed that words alone are not enough, recalling Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falkoner’s statement: “This is not a symbolic gesture. This is a statement of intent.”

Highlighting the fundamental nature of Palestinian rights, Jamal said, “The right to self-determination is inalienable,” adding, “It grants the people the ability to make their own decisions about their future and that they have sovereignty, and that includes who they elect to be their leaders… That's not conditional upon anybody else.”

He warned that recognition without action would be hollow, saying: “If this is going to be a step towards the realization of the right to self-determination, then our government needs to start taking action to remove all of the obstacles in the way of that realization… And that means it ends all of its support for Israel's continuing imposition of occupation, of a system of apartheid, and right now, the enactment of a genocide in Gaza.”

He called for concrete measures, and “It should be saying to Israel, we're going to end all trade with you that supports the violation of the Palestinian people's rights. We're going to impose a full arms embargo.

"We're going to impose comprehensive sanctions until you end the genocide, till you end the occupation, till you lift the system of apartheid and allow the Palestinian people to enjoy what is inalienable, the right of self-determination and the right of self and the right of return in their historic homeland."

Palestinian flag in UK means something

Actor Khalid Abdalla described the ceremony as deeply moving. “I mean, I found it very moving as I was just approaching and you see the depth of this gathering and the people who were here, many of whom are intergenerationally part of this struggle.”

While acknowledging the symbolic nature, he stressed the need for political action: “Of course, it is symbolic. What we really need is full sanctions and a full arms embargo, and we need meaningful actions to stop this genocide.”

Reflecting on personal history, he said: “The raising of the Palestinian flag on the country that is responsible for its dispossession and the Balfour Declaration 108 years later means something. It touches you. My father was here. My first demonstration was on his shoulders when I was three. And as the flag went up, his eyes watered.”

Abdalla expressed hope for global momentum translating into political change. “There is something that is happening, so we are seeing around the world right now a tipping point in every sphere of life. People are standing up and taking more steps… What we need now is for that to be in the political landscape, in the major centers of power, so that what we've seen today is the beginning of the next stage of the trajectory, which leads to a free Palestine.”

'It's really bittersweet'

Layla Moran, the UK’s first British-Palestinian MP, reflected on the emotional complexity of the moment and said: “It's really bittersweet… I've personally been pushing for the recognition of Palestine since I was first elected nearly eight years ago now, but this should have happened decades ago. I'm wearing my grandfather's scarf.

"He's not with us anymore, but he's with us in spirit today, because this is something that should have happened when he was a boy, not when I'm in the position that we are now.”

While welcoming recognition, she acknowledged the ongoing tragedy and added: “So this should have happened, and I'm happy it's happened, but it also shouldn't have taken a genocide to get to this point, and it's impossible, I think, to be fully happy when you know exactly what's happening on the ground in Gaza… there are great fears that now there's going to be increased violence in the West Bank off the back of what's just happened, and Netanyahu will have some kind of retribution for his anger. So you know, it is bittersweet, but it's a good day, and we should try and hold on to a little bit of hope, just for once.”

Moran urged immediate action by saying, “If they don't do anything more after this, it will be for nothing. So it's time that they do something concrete. I would start by banning trade with the illegal settlements. That's the very least they can do.

"It's completely illogical that our economy inadvertently helps the settlers in the occupied West Bank. That is not with international law. It needs to stop immediately.”

On Sunday, the UK officially recognized Palestine, granting it full legal rights of statehood. The decision gives Palestine’s mission in London the full status of an embassy, along with the protections and privileges guaranteed under the Vienna Convention.

The recognition comes amid a wave of international support: Canada, Australia, and Portugal also extended recognition on Sunday, while France followed on Monday. Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino are expected to do the same in the coming days.