ICJP Sends Formal Letter to British Museum, Accuses It of Erasing 'Palestine' From Middle East Galleries

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has formally written to the British Museum accusing it of erasing Palestinian identity after the museum removed the word "Palestine" from maps and information panels in parts of its ancient Middle East galleries.

“The British Museum has removed the term “Palestine” from certain explanatory materials, saying the word did not carry an “appropriate meaning as a historical geographical term” in that context”

ABNA English

ICJP’s letter says the removal "erases Palestinian identity and amounts to differential, discriminatory treatment," framing the edits as a political and rights issue.

ABNA English

Multiple outlet reports link the changes to complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

Those reports also note museum statements that the revisions aimed to improve historical accuracy or to avoid anachronism in ancient-period labels.

The British Museum’s public statements, as reported, emphasise historical accuracy and prior review work rather than admitting changes were made in response to the UKLFI complaint.

Coverage by the Museums Association says the museum denied that the edits followed pressure and characterised the updates as part of a review started more than a year earlier.

Arab News PK

The Museums Association account added that "Palestine" remains in use elsewhere and that modern boundary maps follow UN terminology (Gaza, West Bank, Israel, Jordan).

Metro.co.uk quotes Director Nick Cullinan insisting the museum is "not removing references to Palestine" and noting there is a display about Palestine and Gaza.

Other outlets similarly record the museum’s emphasis on period-appropriate labels such as "Canaan" for parts of the late second millennium BCE.

Reports specify concrete label changes in Levant-related displays: panels for the Phoenicians and ancient Egypt, a revised Hyksos description and other late second‑millennium BCE material have been altered from references to 'Palestine' or 'Palestinian descent' to 'Canaan' and 'Canaanite descent'.

“A pro-Israel group, U”

Daily Sabah

ABNA English and Middle East Eye note the Hyksos wording change covering c.1700–1500 BCE.

Roya News and Metro.co.uk report a revised Phoenician panel and broader Levant gallery updates covering c.2000–300 BC.

Israel National News reports that curators agreed the term was not historically meaningful for those periods and updated the displays.

The changes have provoked pushback from scholars, cultural figures and campaigners across multiple countries.

Middle East Eye and ICJP report activists and campaigners accusing the museum of "erasing Palestinian history and cultural identity."

Dialogue Pakistan

The National.scot notes a petition signed by more than 4,000 people demanding the label be restored.

The National.scot also quotes author William Dalrymple calling press accounts "misleading."

Türkiye Today highlights criticism from cultural figures in Türkiye and wider debates about how museums frame history and identity.

These reactions underline the polarized interpretations of the same edits — technical historical correction for some, cultural erasure for others.

Coverage highlights a broader debate about period-appropriate terminology, the use of UN nomenclature for modern boundaries, and how museums navigate politically charged historical terms.

“London, 18thFebruary 2026 –The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has written to the British Museum over its removal of the word “Palestine” from maps and information panels on the Eastern Mediterranean coast, within the Middle East Galleries, after receiving a formal complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI)”

ICJP

Several sources note the museum uses UN terminology for modern maps (Gaza, West Bank, Israel, Jordan) and reserves 'Palestinian' as an ethnographic term where appropriate, while critics say removing the name in ancient contexts risks erasing continuity of Palestinian presence.

ICJP

Others (e.g., The Indian Express, Dialogue Pakistan) record UKLFI's argument that retroactive use of 'Palestine' can be anachronistic and misframe ancient Israelite origins, showing how different stakeholders invoke archaeology, nationalism and museum practice to support opposing claims.