London— The Palestinian flag was raised on Monday outside the newly designated Embassy of the State of Palestine in London, marking the United Kingdom’s historic recognition of Palestinian statehood, reported the Al Jazeera.
The ceremony took place at the former Palestine Mission in Hammersmith and was led by Palestine’s Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot. Addressing a large crowd of supporters, Zomlot described the flag as “a symbol of mourning, hope, land and sacrifice,” embodying the long struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination.
Calling the recognition “a historic correction,” Zomlot reminded the audience that the decision came in the very capital where the Balfour Declaration was issued more than a century ago. He unveiled a plaque inscribed with The Embassy of the State of Palestine, which will be affixed once legal formalities are completed.
“This is a moral responsibility for Britain to acknowledge past injustices,” he said. “Palestine exists, it has always existed, and it always will.”
The UK’s recognition, announced on Sunday, September 21, places it alongside Canada, Portugal, and Australia in officially recognising Palestine as a sovereign state. The move has drawn sharp objections from Israel and the United States, both of which have pledged to boycott the upcoming UN Conference on Palestine Statehood in New York.
Meanwhile, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, and Andorra are also expected to follow, joining more than 145 countries worldwide that have already extended recognition to Palestine.
The flag-raising was described by Zomlot as “a defiant act of truth, a refusal to let genocide be the final word,” receiving resounding applause from the crowd gathered outside the embassy building.
