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Palestinian embassy opens in London

Ambassador Husam Zomlot called its establishment a “profound milestone in the British-Palestinian relations.”

Ambassador Husam Zomlot lifts the new plaque of the Embassy of the State of Palestine as Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney (right) and UK Middle East minister Hamish Falconer (left) attend a flag-raising ceremony marking Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state in London, Sept. 22, 2025. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.
Ambassador Husam Zomlot lifts the new plaque of the Embassy of the State of Palestine as Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney (right) and UK Middle East minister Hamish Falconer (left) attend a flag-raising ceremony marking Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state in London, Sept. 22, 2025. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.

The Palestinian embassy in London was officially inaugurated Monday, with envoy Husam Zomlot calling its establishment a “profound milestone in the British-Palestinian relations” as the former Palestinian Mission gained full embassy status with diplomatic privileges.

The United Kingdom recognized the “State of Palestine” in September 2025, joining Australia and Canada.

“This is not merely a change of name ... it is a change of direction” toward Palestinian statehood, Zomlot said at a ceremony in the Hammersmith district of West London.

U.K. diplomatic representative Alistair Harrison called it “the beginning of a step change in our bilateral relationship.”

The British Foreign Ministry did not immediately say whether it would open an embassy in Ramallah, which serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority.

Israel does not recognize “Palestine” as a sovereign state, and the United States also withholds formal diplomatic recognition.

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