Palestinian Ambassador Appeals to Foreign Office Over British Museum Changes
The Palestinian ambassador to the UK has lodged a formal complaint with the Foreign Office following the British Museum’s removal of the word āPalestineā from several of its exhibits. The changes involved replacing āPalestineā with āGazaā and āthe West Bankā on a panel listing present-day countries of the ancient Levant, as well as removing āPalestineā and āPalestinianā from explanatory panels in the ancient Levant and Egyptian rooms.
Background and Ambassador’s Response
The UK officially recognised the state of Palestine in September 2025. However, in the same year, the British Museum altered its displays by omitting the name āPalestine.ā Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador, described this as a historical āerasureā amid ongoing conflicts and alleged destruction of Palestinian heritage. He highlighted recent incidents, including the bombing of a major archaeological storage depot in Gaza City and the removal of relics from occupied Palestinian territories.
Zomlot met with the museumās director, Nicholas Cullinan, and curators in March but received no assurance that the changes would be reversed. He declined a museum tour offered during the meeting, stating that engaging further without corrective action could be seen as endorsing the current presentation. In a letter to Cullinan, Zomlot expressed willingness to resume discussions and accept a tour once the necessary corrections are made.
British Museum and Government Positions
The British Museum stated that it has not removed the term āPalestineā entirely and continues to use it in some galleries and on its website. This statement contrasts with photographic evidence and earlier comments regarding the changes. The museum has not publicly explained the rationale behind the alterations, which were reportedly influenced by audience testing and concerns raised by the pressure group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
UKLFI argued that the term āPalestineā was being applied retroactively to historical periods when no such entity existed, potentially obscuring the history of Israel and the Jewish people. The museum reportedly told UKLFI that the historic use of āPalestineā was sometimes no longer meaningful for audiences.
A British government spokesperson clarified that museums and galleries in the UK operate independently of the government, and decisions about collections are made by their trustees. The British Museum is publicly funded but governed by an independent board chaired by former chancellor George Osborne.
Historical Context and Scholarly Views
The changes include replacing āPalestinianā with āCanaaniteā in a panel about the Hyksos rulers of Egypt and removing references to Palestine and the Philistines in a text about the Phoenicians. Scholars generally question the need for these changes, noting that the name Palestine, derived from āPeleset,ā appears in ancient Egyptian inscriptions from the 12th century BC and has been used by various civilizations through history.
Marchella Ward, a lecturer in classical studies, stated that removing āPalestineā is not a matter of historical accuracy, as the term is well attested in historical sources. Meanwhile, Josephine Quinn, professor of ancient history, cautioned against applying ancient names to contemporary political issues, warning that such interpretations can distort history and have dangerous implications.
Following the March meeting, Ambassador Zomlot has appealed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to intervene, hoping the UK government will encourage the British Museum to align its exhibits with the UKās recognition of Palestine.