LONDON: As Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Britain’s landmark decision to recognize the State of Palestine on Sunday, the small team in the Palestinian mission to the UK erupted in cheers of joy.
“This is a historic moment,” beamed Palestinian envoy to the UK Husam Zomlot, watching the televised announcement at the mission in west London.
Canada and Australia took the same step in a coordinated decision marking a pivotal shift in Western foreign policy, with Israel under increasing international pressure over its deadly war with Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“This is a South Africa moment for Palestine,” the head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK told AFP in the building, which will soon be designated as Palestine’s embassy in Britain.
He was referring to the end of South Africa’s white apartheid government in the 1990s, which came after growing international pressure and isolation.
Recognition was an “act of assurances to the Palestinian people that they hope for a better future and ... peace is possible.”
Zomlot was born in a refugee camp in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip. “As a small boy from Rafah, this is all I was raised to know,” he said, gesturing toward the television screen which flashed with breaking news headlines about the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“Well done, that’s a great moment,” said Zomlot, embracing and congratulating his team, as AFP journalists in the room witnessed Starmer’s announcement after a tense day of anticipation for the mission.
“It’s been decades,” joked one staff member, who wished to remain anonymous.
The UK government had said in July it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September ahead of the annual UN General Assembly unless Israel took “substantive” steps, including reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine,” Starmer said in a video message posted around 2 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).
“Merely the beginning”
While the recognition, which will be echoed by France, Belgium and other countries at the United Nations next week, is a largely symbolic move, Zomlot said he hoped it would be “actual, practical, actionable.”
“Recognition is not the destination. Recognition is merely the beginning, the first foundational step toward ... making sure that Britain takes its historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people,” said the envoy.
The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the UN in July it was “with the hand of history on our shoulders” that London planned to recognize Palestinian statehood, given Britain’s pivotal role in creating the State of Israel through the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
The decision is “not only about Palestine,” said Zomlot. “It’s also about Britain. It’s about correcting historic injustice.”
The team will hold a ceremony to mark the announcement on Monday. A carefully folded Palestinian flag, which will be raised outside the building, sits patiently at the reception of the mission waiting to be unfurled.
Cheers, hugs at Palestinian mission as UK recognizes statehood
https://arab.news/rg6sv
Cheers, hugs at Palestinian mission as UK recognizes statehood
- “This is a South Africa moment for Palestine,” the head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK said
- Palestinian Mission will soon be designated as Palestine’s embassy in Britain
‘Hero’ who disarmed Bondi gunman recovers in hospital as donations pour in
- Sydney resident Ahmed Al-Ahmed seized rifle from one of the gunmen
- Ahmed was shot in hand and arm his family says
- Australia PM said Ahmed showed ‘best of humanity’
SYDNEY: Donations for a Sydney man who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during a mass shooting at Bondi Beach have surged past A$1.1 million ($744,000), as he recovers in hospital after surgery for bullet wounds.
Forty-three-year-old Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a Muslim father-of-two, hid behind parked cars before charging at one of the gunmen from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ahmed’s bravery saved lives.
“What we’ve seen in the last 24 hours was the worst of humanity in a terrorist act. But we also saw an example of the best of humanity in Ahmed Al Ahmed running toward danger, putting his own life at risk,” Albanese told state broadcaster ABC News.
He was shot twice by a second perpetrator, Albanese said. Ahmed’s family said he was hit in the hand and arm.
Australian police on Monday said a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son carried out the attack at a Jewish celebration on Sunday afternoon, killing 15 people in the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.
HAILED A HERO FOR DISARMING THE GUNMAN
Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, told ABC News in an interview that his son was an Australian citizen and sells fruits and vegetables.
“My son is a hero. He served in the police, he has the passion to defend people.”
“When he saw people lying on the ground and the blood, quickly his conscience pushed him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon,” Mohamed Fateh said.
Jozay Alkanji, Ahmed’s cousin, said he had had initial surgery and may need more.
AHMED PICTURED IN HOSPITAL
Tributes have poured in from leaders both abroad and at home.
Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, said in a social media post he visited Ahmed at St. George Hospital and conveyed the gratitude of people across the state.
“Ahmed is a real-life hero,” his post said. “Thank you, Ahmed.” A photo showed Minns at his bedside, and Ahmed propped on pillows with his left arm in a cast.
US President Donald Trump called Ahmed “a very, very brave person” who saved many lives.
A GoFundMe campaign set up for Ahmed has raised more than A$1.1 million within one day. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the largest donor, contributing A$99,999 and sharing the fundraiser on his X account.
SUPPORTERS THANK AHMED FOR SAVING LIVES
Outside St. George Hospital, strangers came to show their support.
Misha and Veronica Pochuev left flowers for Ahmed with their seven-year-old daughter, Miroslava.
“My husband is Russian, my father is Jewish, my grandpa is Muslim. This is not only about Bondi, this is about every person,” Veronica said.
Yomna Touni, 43, stayed at the hospital for hours to offer assistance on behalf of a Muslim-run charity also raising funds for Ahmed.
“The intention is to raise as much money as possible for his speedy recovery,” she said. ($1 = 1.5047 Australian dollars) (Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Michael Perry, Saad Sayeed, Alexandra Hudson)
