As UK marks Remembrance Day, Palestinians remind the world that poppies are a national symbol for them too

The poppy has become an emblem of the ongoing battle between the British government, the Metropolitan police, and organisers of a pro-Palestine march planned for Saturday in London due to it coinciding with Remembrance Day commemorations.

Amid the debate, Palestinians have pointed out that the flower, a traditional symbol of remembrance in the UK for the war dead of the First World War, is a national emblem for them also.

Pro-Palestine marches have taken place every Saturday in London since 7 October, as well as in cities across the world, to show support for Palestinians and call for an end to Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza, which has killed over 10,500 Palestinians.

Unprecedented numbers have taken to the streets, gathering at landmarks such as Trafalgar Square waving Palestinian flags, wearing the traditional keffiyeh, and holding banners demanding the end of the Israeli occupation.

The protest on Saturday will take place at the same time as a ceremony is held in central London for the UK war dead.

The poppy will likely be worn by some of the protesters at the Palestine march, in commemoration for all war dead.

What is Remembrance Day?

The UK and Commonwealth states mark Remembrance Day on 11 November every year since the end of the First World War to remember all servicemen and women who have died in conflict.

Official services take place at churches, schools, and other institutions around the country on Remembrance Sunday, always on the second Sunday in November, with prayer services and military parades.

In London, the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph is attended by the monarch and members of the Royal Family, as well as senior government officials and members of the armed forces.

Poppy wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph memorial and a two-minute silence held at 11am is held to honour the armistice agreement which was signed at "the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" in 1918, by German officials and the Allied Powers to finally end the fighting.

Why is the poppy used as a commemoration?

In the lead-up to 11 November, members of the public traditionally pin red poppy flower badge to their coats, bags or hats sold by The Royal British Legion charity as part of their 'Poppy Appeal' in aid of the British Armed Forces.

Poppies hold huge significance for British people because of their connection to Remembrance Day and as a show of respect for fallen servicemen and women and war veterans.

They came to be a symbol of remembrance as the flower grew out of the battered post-war landscapes of Northern France and Flanders in Belgium, where some of the worst battles during the First World War were fought.

The poppy was immortalised as a symbol of the dead and their sacrifices through the poem 'In Flanders Fields' written in 1915 by Canadian surgeon and army officer John McCrae.

🚨We will be marching on November 11. Our statement in response to the Met Police. 🇵🇸

Read here: https://t.co/UZ0GBEhXUv#CeasefireNOW pic.twitter.com/74VaWN7w6j

— PSC (@PSCupdates) November 6, 2023

Why is the poppy significant for Palestinians?

But the poppy is an important symbol in other cultures too. The 'Anemone coronaria’ poppy variety grows in abundance in the fields of Palestine during the spring months. For a long time, it has represented the relationship between Palestinians and their land.

For Palestinians, it also symbolises bitter memories of bloodshed during wars and is often depicted in Palestinian art and literature.

The flower has all three colours of the Palestinian flag and the poppy image is widely used to support Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation.

When the row broke out over the Palestinian march on Remembrance Day, activists were quick to point out the poppy’s historic importance for Palestine too.

On social media, users called out double standards of the UK government attempting to ban a march that aims to end the war Gaza.

Poppies don't only grow in Palestine: They're our national flower. Western politicians are donning our flower while they genocide us...extremely painful irony. #RemembranceDay #FreePalestine #SanctionIsrael https://t.co/r0f64keEwX pic.twitter.com/Qapgw1Xp58

— Ghada Sasa | غادة سعسع PhD(c) 🇵🇸 (@sasa_ghada) November 7, 2023

Palestinian soldiers also played a role in supporting the British Army during the Second World War.

The British conscripted Arabs and Jews living under the British Mandate to bolster their forces, which became known as the Palestine Regiment of the British Army.

Why is this Remembrance Day particularly controversial?

UK Prime Minister Sunak, along with hard-line members of his cabinet, have called for this Saturday’s protest to be called off due to it coinciding with Remembrance Day, describing it as "disrespectful and provocative".

He has urged London’s Metropolitan Police to intervene and even hit back at the head of the Met, Sir Mark Rowley, who said that there is "no absolute power to ban the protest".

Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the organisers, said that 11 November national significance had been taken into account from the beginning and that the march would go ahead, considering the "overwhelming public support".

Sunak has maintained support for Israel's bombardment of Gaza despite alarm from humanitarian organisations over the immense suffering and destruction in Gaza.

The Saturday demonstrations, calling for a ceasefire, have expanded as Israel’s brutal attack on Gaza intensifies, with activists and members of the public organising sit-ins at train and tube stations.

Last weekend, a sit-in at Charing Cross train station forced its closure and saw a group of three elderly volunteers selling poppy badges for Remembrance Day caught up in the middle of the demonstration.

The image of the elderly poppy sellers – who subsequently told reporters that they had no incidents with the demonstrators – amid the anti-war supporters caused an uproar from Britain's right-wing press and government. None of them were harmed and images showed them more bewildered than intimidated.