Palestinian Ambassador Hails UK Sanctions on Israel as “Turning Point” in Relations
September 10, 2026
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot ) hailed a historic shift in global diplomacy, calling Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s announcement in Parliament a major turning point in UK-Palestine relations.
“FROM RECOGNITION TO ACTION. FROM CONDEMNATION TO CONSEQUENCE.”
For decades, the West’s playbook on Israel was words. “Deeply concerned.” “Closely monitoring.” “Urging restraint.” Statements that cost nothing and changed nothing while settlements expanded and Gaza was flattened.
Today, Britain did something different. Sanctions. A trade ban on settlement goods. A Foreign Secretary standing in Parliament calling it ethnic cleansing by name.
This is what accountability is supposed to look like… not another statement, but a consequence.
One country moved. The question now is who has the courage to follow?
Source: @hzomlot
#Palestine #UK #Miliband #FreePalestine #fyp
English Script:
Husam Zomlott: Today marks a turning point in UK Palestine relations, as the British government just announced a reset of policy affirming the illegality of Israel’s occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in line with international law and the ICJ advisory opinion and consequently adopting a set of measures, including a full ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied land of the State of Palestine. For decades, illegal Israeli settlements and occupation have been condemned. Today, Britain begins to move from condemnation to consequences, from words to action. We welcome this decision and commend Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for translating Britain’s recognition of the State of Palestine and its obligation under international law into concrete action, because recognition cannot be meaningful while the land of the recognized state is being stolen from its people. You cannot recognize the State of Palestine while allowing its territory to be annexed. You cannot uphold international law while enabling those who systematically violated, and there can be no lasting peace without accountability. And yes, language matters. We must call things by their names. Occupation is unlawful and must end immediately. Eight years of Israeli campaign of ethnic cleansing, occupation, state sponsored terrorism and now an ongoing genocide in Gaza must be named for what they are. War crimes and crimes against humanity and war criminals must be held accountable. But naming these crimes is not enough. Words matter, but action matters most. International law is not simply something to invoke. It must be enforced. Accountability is measured not by declarations, but by consequences, by action. This long overdue decision is therefore not the end. It must be the beginning. Britain should now lead in Europe, across the Commonwealth and internationally, to ensure that no state company, bank or institution contributes to facilitates or profits from this illegal occupation and the illegal settlement enterprise. That means a full arms embargo. Sanctions against the Israeli state agencies and institutions sponsoring these illegal settlements, and an end to unlawful business and financial dealings in the occupied Palestinian Territory. Britain carries a unique historic responsibility towards Palestine today. It also has an opportunity for historic leadership. None of this would have been happening without the Palestinian people themselves, whose steadfastness “Sumud” an unbroken spirit and struggle for freedom and justice. Through generations of this position and now, genocide, have kept the cause of Palestine alive and the conscience of the world. To them, to the people of Palestine, to my people, we say, your struggle is seen. Your sacrifice is not in vain. And the march for a Free Palestine continues. We also thank wholeheartedly the British people, Parliament and the civil society, the campaigners, faith groups, trade unions and ordinary citizens who marched, organized and never stopped calling for justice for Palestine. This decision today belongs to you too until this illegal occupation ends, and a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine is realized. Accountability must continue. This is how recognition becomes reality. This is how we protect Palestine, and that is how we begin to build a just and lasting peace. So let us continue, continue to gather together the long march to freedom until Palestine is free.
