The Palestinian Forum in Britain welcomes the decision of the British government to officially recognise the State of Palestine. While this step comes late, it nevertheless carries profound political and moral significance, reaffirming the justice of our cause and our people’s historic and natural right to freedom and independence.
As we value this decision, we stress that it must not remain symbolic alone, but rather be translated into concrete and practical measures. Chief among these are: halting the genocide against our people in Gaza, lifting the unjust blockade that has been imposed for more than 18 years, and pursuing the leaders of the occupation responsible for war crimes to bring them before international justice.
The PFB also emphasises its rejection of any narrative that equates victim and oppressor, or that places legitimate resistance alongside the crimes of occupation. At the heart of this tragedy lies the continuation of Israeli occupation in all its forms, which must be addressed as the root cause of the suffering of the Palestinian people.
We call on the British government to ensure that its recognition of the State of Palestine becomes the beginning of a policy more consistent with the principles of justice and human rights, by supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and standing with them in their legitimate struggle to end the occupation and achieve freedom and justice for Palestine.
