The Palestinian flag was raised at London’s newly upgraded embassy on Wednesday, marking Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state, but the ceremony was delayed by an oversupply of VIPs and punctuated by protests against arms sales to Israel.
Around 60 ambassadors, dozens of MPs, and figures including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Scottish First Minister John Swinney gathered outside the former Palestinian Mission in Hammersmith, west London. The event, originally scheduled for 11am, began 15 minutes late as officials struggled to accommodate the crowd.
Ambassador Husam Zomlot declared the moment historic, noting it took place in the same capital as the Balfour Declaration. “After more than a century of ongoing denial, dispossession and erasure, the UK government has finally taken the long overdue step of recognising the state of Palestine,” he said, holding up a plaque to be affixed to the building.
Minister of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer then addressed the crowd, denouncing “extremist ideas on both sides” and criticising Israeli settlement expansion and the Gaza war. As he spoke, chants of “Stop arming Israel” erupted from the audience, forcing him to pause briefly before continuing.
The flag, described by Zomlot as representing mourning, hope, land and sacrifice, was raised to the tune of the Palestinian national anthem. Among the attendees was chef Joudie Kalla, who said the event signified a long-awaited acknowledgment of Palestinian identity.
