PRO-PALESTINE protesters staged a sit-in at the British Museum on Sunday over its funding from oil giant BP. 

Energy Embargo for Palestine organised the protest, and were joined by activists from London For Palestine, Sisters Uncut and Palestinian Youth Movement. 

Writing on Twitter, Energy Embargo for Palestine said that the group wants the British Museum to “end its 10-year partnership with British Petroleum, an energy company profiting from Israel’s colonial genocide.” 

At the end of October, Israel granted BP a licence for gas exploration off the coast of Gaza. Less than two months later, the museum signed a sponsorship agreement with BP worth £50 million.

The sit-in lasted about two hours and prompted the museum to temporarily close. Dozens of police attended the site, according to activists at the scene. 

A museum spokesman said: “The British Museum respects other people’s right to express their views and allows peaceful protest onsite at the museum as long as there is no risk to the collection, staff or visitors.”