Palestinian Envoy to UK Accuses British Museum of “Historical Erasure” Over Removal of Palestine References
The Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, has called on the British Foreign Office to intervene following the removal of references to “Palestine” from several exhibits at the British Museum, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported Wednesday.
Despite the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025, the museum reportedly removed the name “Palestine” from a plaque listing modern-day countries that were once part of the Levant, replacing it with “Gaza Strip” and “West Bank.” According to The Guardian, Ambassador Zomlot has demanded the restoration of the original terminology and is seeking formal discussions with the museum’s administration regarding the broader removal of the terms “Palestine” and “Palestinian” from displays in the Ancient Near East and Egypt galleries.
Zomlot condemned the move as an act of “historical erasure,” occurring, he said, while Israel carries out a campaign of destruction against the Palestinian people, characterised as genocide by several human rights organisations and by a United Nations independent commission report.
He further asserted that the Zionist entity has been removing archaeological artefacts from occupied Palestinian territories, noting that an airstrike last September destroyed the main antiquities warehouse in Gaza City, obliterating three decades of archaeological research.
Invited to meet museum director Nicolas Cullinan on 24 March, Zomlot said he received no guarantees that the changes would be reviewed and subsequently declined an offer for a guided tour of the museum.
In a letter dated 9 April, cited by The Guardian and New Lines Magazine, he wrote: ” In the absence of any corrective measures or clear commitment to address the specific issues, it was not appropriate to continue engagement in a manner that could be interpreted as endorsing the current display.” He added that he remains willing to continue discussions and would welcome a tour “once the necessary corrections are made.” The British Museum denied removing the term “Palestine,” stating that the name continues to appear in several contemporary and historical galleries, as well as on its official website.
