Ramallah's Mayor visits Oxford
On Tuesday 9th December 2025 ORFA and Oxford City Council hosted an historic visit of the Mayor of Ramallah, Issa Kassis, to Oxford. He was accompanied by Palestine’s Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot.
ORFA worked closely with Oxford City Council to organise this very successful and productive evening reception at the Rose Hill Community Centre for the Mayor of Ramallah City in the West Bank, Issa Kassis and his colleague, Mr Ahmed AbuLaban, Ramallah City Director. They were in the UK for the Resilient Cities Summit in London.
They came to Oxford on Tuesday 9th December on the invitation of Oxford Mayor Cllr Louise Upton and Council Leader Cllr Susan Brown to further the positive twinning relationship that the two cities have forged over several years.
We also had the honour of greeting the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot who accompanied them from London.
Highlights and statements from the Meeting:
Samia Shibli [pictured] welcomed everyone to the reception – in Arabic and English - on behalf of ORFA.
Then Oxford Mayor Cllr Louise Upton addressed the Mayor of Ramallah:
“Meeting you in person makes the bond feel very real....I hope that the Twinning with you gives a very strong statement to the world that we stand with you.”
“I couldn’t be happier to welcome you here today...This relationship we have has been built on the work that ORFA has been doing.”
“We hope the twinning can be just as beneficial to you as it is to us in Oxford - it enriches us.”This was met with loud applause.
Ramallah Mayor Issa Kassis in reply:
“Our visit today has different colours and shapes and unexpected outcomes and putting in agreements means a lot. And a commitment, an unwavering commitment both ways, commitment to learn and to share and show what Palestine looks like. We very much appreciate the long, strong relationship with this beautiful city.”
“Life in Ramallah it's full of hope and of life because we want to live for the country. And we want the world to feel our self determination to have our independent state on our sovereign soil with East Jerusalem as our capital. This is in the DNA of every Palestinian. To tell the world that we are not animals and we are not terrorists. We are educated people and we do not want to bring anything but good to the world and we want to be good citizens of the world.”
“It is through you that we reach people.”
“If we do not twin with cities globally, we will not form human relationships.”
Standing Ovation followed by gifts from the Mayor to ORFA’s representatives: Nikki Marriot and Samia Shibli.
Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot called for special thanks to ORFA members who enabled the twinning to be realised over several years and to the City Council.
“I am proud of what you have done today and that the flag of Palestine will fly proudly in Oxford tomorrow.”
“I have just one message for you, Gaza is not going anywhere, and the people of Gaza are not going anywhere. And maybe Israel has had a military victory, but it has had a strategic defeat and one of the factors of the strategic defeat is you and the international public opinion. To ensure our agreement is taken we have to take it forward Mayor and build the relationship because nothing is stronger than friendship - it is a political act of tying our destiny together as two cities and two people”.
The Oxford Dabke Group then ran an informal Dabke Dance class after the speeches which was much appreciated by adults, children and families attending the reception.
The council paid for the delicious food, which was provided by Za'atar Bake, 166 Cowley Road, OX4 1UE