Jubilant Palestinians raised the flag at the new ’embassy’ in London today after the UK announced it will recognise the state’s existence.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the UK who is set to become the ambassador, hailed the bolstered status at a ceremony this morning.
He was watched by Government ministers, including Wes Streeting – who only narrowly beat a pro-Gaza independent at the general election, as well as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Veteran left-wing MP Jeremy Corbyn and SNP leader John Swinney also attended.
However, the British government is facing mounting fury over the decision, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pleading with Israel not to respond by settling more territory.
The US has joined the backlash at the ‘performative’ move, which has been condemned as a ‘reward’ for Hamas terrorism.
Critics also accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of a desperate effort to avoid being outflanked by pro-Palestine left-wingers.
The largely symbolic step has been coordinated with Canada, Australia and Portugal, and France is expected to follow suit later.
Ms Cooper, who is attending UN meetings in New York, said the UK had to act to keep hopes of a ‘two-state solution’ alive.
But after an incensed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to speed up settlement of the West Bank, the Foreign Secretary said: ‘We have been clear, and I have been clear to the Israeli foreign minister, we have been clear to the Israeli government, that they must not do that.’
Ms Cooper told the BBC: ‘We have been clear that this decision that we are taking is about the best way to respect the security for Israel as well as the security for Palestinians.
‘It’s about protecting peace and justice and crucially security for the Middle East and we will continue to work with everyone across the region in order to be able to do that.’
Speaking at the flag raising ceremony in front of the Palestine Mission in Hammersmith on Monday, Mr Zomlot hailed an ‘historic moment’.
‘The UK government has finally taken the long overdue step of recognising the state of Palestine,’ he said. ‘Palestine exists, it has always existed and it always will.’
He added: ‘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 permanent, a refusal to be erased, and a refusal to be dehumanised.’
Mr Zomlot also held up a plaque reading ‘Embassy of the State of Palestine’ to cheers from a crowd.
The UK will use the UN General Assembly to push for international backing of a framework for peace in the Middle East, following its recognition of a Palestinian state.
Ms Cooper will seek to strengthen ‘the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East’.
She will hold meetings to advance elements of the plan, including transitional governance and security measures to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office.
The UK Government has acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state would not ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to the freeing of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 2023.
Mr Netanyahu branded the UK move ‘absurd’ and ‘simply a reward for terrorism’.
‘For years, I have prevented the creation of this terror state despite enormous pressure both domestically and internationally. We have done so with determination and political wisdom,’ he said.
Using the Biblical name for the West Bank, Mr Netanyahu said: ‘We have doubled Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria and we will continue on this path.’
US President Donald Trump said recognition of Palestine was ‘rewarding Hamas’.
A US State Department official said: ‘Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas.’
Families of hostages held in Gaza called it a ‘betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity’.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi reportedly hailed the move as a victory for ‘the justice of our cause’.
In an effort to counter that criticism, Sir Keir said Hamas was a ‘brutal terror organisation’ and confirmed plans to ratchet up sanctions on the group.
Middle East minister Hamish Falconer this morning rejected the suggestion that recognition of Palestine was motivated by internal Labour politics.
Labour candidates have faced opposition from pro-Palestine rivals, who claimed several scalps at the general election and ate into majorities elsewhere.
The Tories have opposed the move, but Mr Falconer insisted there was cross-party support.
Mr Falconer told Sky News: ‘There was concern right across the Chamber, from Conservatives – the Father of the House (Sir Edward Leigh) is a Conservative with whom I don’t agree on very much, but even he has called for recognition of the Palestinian state.
‘It’s a Liberal Democrat demand. It’s a demand of the nationalists and of course, many, many Labour MPs care about this too.
‘This is not just an issue contained in my party.’
Mr Falconer, who later attended the ceremony at the Palestine Mission in London, acknowledged the decision to recognise Palestine would make little immediate difference.
He told BBC Breakfast: ‘Recognition will not… mean that humanitarian aid comes in tomorrow.
‘It will not mean that hostages are released tomorrow. But it does set out an important framework for bringing this conflict to an end, getting a ceasefire in Gaza.’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said recognising Palestine as a state is a step towards a two-state solution that ‘anybody who believes in peace must believe in’.
Speaking at Gatwick Airport, Ms Reeves said: ‘This country has long believed that there needs to be a two-state solution in the Middle East: a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and a peaceful Palestinian state.
‘Everybody who has seen over the last two years, since Hamas took those hostages – killed those innocent people in Israel, have seen the scenes unfolding both in Israel and in Gaza – and can’t help but be moved by those.
‘This action, alongside Canada and Australia, to recognise a Palestinian state is another step towards that two-state solution that anybody who believes in peace must believe in.’
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will represent the UK at the UN General Assembly, along with Ms Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised Sir Keir’s absence at the summit.
He said: ‘The Prime Minister should not be missing in action from Britain’s historic recognition of Palestinian statehood just because he’s worried about upsetting Donald Trump.’
