Campaigners and scholars demand answers from British Museum following disclosures

Campaigners and scholars say that recent revelations that the British Museum made false claims about its removal of "Palestine" from its displays raise serious questions regarding the integrity and transparency of its policy and practice.

A Middle East Eye investigation published on Wednesday revealed that the museum’s decision to remove the terms “Palestine”, “Palestinian” and “Israelite occupation” from its displays came in direct response to months of lobbying in 2024.

While the museum previously claimed that the changes were motivated by “audience testing”, the disclosures to MEE show that no such testing took place, and that amendments were made following a series of private and public complaints by pro-Israel activists.

Disclosed internal emails further contradict museum director Nicholas Cullinan’s claims in February that he “knew nothing” about a letter sent by UK Lawyers for Israel, despite it being addressed to him and sent directly to his office email, with staff having even “flagged” it for his office.

Cullinan further insisted that the changes were made months prior, “during a regular gallery refresh”, and that the museum’s curators had “thought long and hard” about them. The disclosures reveal that some of the changes were made hours after one complaint.

Culture Unstained (CU), a group that has campaigned over the museum’s exhibitions with fossil fuel giant BP, warned that the museum and Cullinan may have breached the Museum Association’s Code of Ethics, and have called for an independent investigation into their conduct.

Read more: Campaigners and scholars demand answers from British Museum following disclosures