An architectural charity has postponed a controversial Gaza-themed event after concerns were raised about the participation of officials from Gaza Municipality, which operates under the Hamas-run administration in Gaza.

The Building Centre, an architecture and built environment institution in London, announced that its event, Cultural Rebuilding: Memory, Identity and the Right to Return, scheduled for June 16, would not proceed as planned.

The Building Centre’s website states: “We are postponing this event.  We believe that the planned event would have provided a valuable opportunity to address issues relevant to rebuilding in a conflict zone as part of our Cities at War series.  However, having received representations in relation to the event, we are postponing it to consider those representations and take advice, if necessary. We apologise to those who were planning to attend. Ticket costs will be refunded.”

The decision follows complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) and others about the inclusion of officials from Gaza Municipality, which operates under the Hamas-run administration in Gaza.

Promotional material for the event had advertised appearances by Yahya Sarraj, identified as Mayor of Gaza, and Maher Salem, Gaza Municipality’s General Director of Planning, who were due to participate via live video link from Gaza.

Although references to the pair were subsequently removed from the Building Centre’s website, they continued to appear on an Eventbrite page advertising tickets for the event.

UKLFI wrote to the trustees of the Built Environment Trust, the charity which owns and runs the Building Centre, warning of potential legal, regulatory and reputational risks associated with the event.

UKLFI requested that the trustees satisfy themselves that no participant was a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.

UKLFI’s letter also questioned whether the event’s focus on “memory, identity and the right to return” was consistent with the charity’s educational objectives, arguing that the programme risked becoming a platform for one-sided political advocacy rather than discussion of architecture and reconstruction.

The event was also due to feature representatives from Architects for Gaza and Forensic Architecture.

The Building Centre has not said whether the event will be rescheduled or whether its programme will be altered.

A spokesperson for UKLFI said: “We are pleased that the Building Centre has recognised the seriousness of the concerns raised and has decided to postpone the event. Trustees of charities have a responsibility to ensure that their organisations are not drawn into partisan political campaigning and do not expose themselves to legal or reputational risks. We look forward to hearing the outcome of the trustees’ review.”