REFÎF ÎSLIM

Gaza- Some Palestinian journalists, activists, and press outlets have launched a campaign with the participation of the Palestinian Media Center and the Palestinian Committee to Support Journalists to protest Facebook and Twitter. The users of social media draw attention to the restrictions on social media accounts. Palestine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Husam Zomlot filed an official complaint about, “the ethical and legal deficiencies of the social media companies.” 50% of social media users have reportedly faced restrictions.

Gaza residents and their supporters around the world have used social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter to show brutal attacks on civilian settlements, health facilities, cultural centers, and agricultural lands share images and posts about the violence in Gaza. Palestinian female activists have criticized the censorship on their social media accounts that they have used to show what is happening in Gaza to the world. The Palestinian women noted that Israel wants to spread unlawful images in the world as it has committed a war crime in Gaza.

Mase EL-Bihteti: Share even if your accounts are suspended

24-year-old Mase EL-Bihteti is a Palenstinian activist woman. “The attacks on Gaza are not like Israel claims. Genocidal policies have been carried out on the people of Gaza. We tried to spread these by posting images and videos on social networks.”

Mase EL-Bihteti said that their posts have suddenly disappeared or their accounts have been suspended. She called on Palestinian people to keep posting even if their accounts are suspended.

“Then, why do we use social media?”

19-year-old Henin Fayiz is an activist living outside of Gaza. She is also one of the social media users posting about what is happening in their country. “Gaza has turned into ruins due to the Israeli occupation. Now, it is a ruined city. If we cannot make this known all around the world, then why do we use social media?” Henin Fayiz asked.

“I only posted two tweets, they disappeared”

22-year-old Ayya Eki is an activist and a social media user. “I only posted two tweets, one about the bombardment of Gaza, other about the liberation of Sheikh Jarrah,” Ayya Eki said, “But both were disappeared in several minutes.”

After the disappearance of her tweets, her social media accounts were suspended. “I began to write comments under the images shared by Israeli websites but then I realized that my comments also disappeared. All Palestinians should boycott these social networks.”