Activists Occupy British Museum; French TV Censors Actress

Pro-Palestine activists occupied the Great Hall of the British Museum on Saturday during the opening of its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition. The demonstration targeted billionaire Igor Tulchinsky, who sponsored the event. He also provided funds for a facility in Efrat, a West Bank settlement deemed illegal and currently subject to UK sanctions.

Members of Energy Embargo for Palestine staged the occupation to demand the museum end its relationship with BP. The group set out four specific demands, including the creation of a democratic staff-led body to oversee partnerships. They also called for renaming the BP lecture theatre and rejecting funding from fossil fuel and arms companies.

Lila Azad criticized the institution for aligning with billionaires invested in illegal settlements. She argued that the museum has a track record of partnering with entities fuelling genocide and climate breakdown. Activists plan to unveil a People’s Tapestry, created with local groups, to show the community’s vision for presenting history.

In France, activist Adele Haenel faced censorship on television after condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. During an appearance on France 5, she accused the state of being complicit in genocide and called for sanctions. Her comments were made while discussing her first book about violence against children and sexual abuse.

France Televisions removed the programme from its replay service following complaints from pro-Israeli groups. Haenel explained that she recited a different text live than the one submitted to producers. She stated that naming Israel as the perpetrator forced governments to confront their political choices regarding weapons sales and collaboration.