YouTube Deletes Hundreds of Videos from Palestinian Rights Groups
YouTube has removed more than 700 videos and shut down accounts of three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations, according to a report by The Intercept.
Accounts Affected
- Al-Haq
- Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
- Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
These groups had posted extensive footage documenting alleged Israeli violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Content Removed
The erased videos included investigations of Israeli strikes, survivor testimonies, and footage related to the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Reason for Removal
The removals occurred in early October, weeks after the US government imposed sanctions on these organizations for cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC). YouTube confirmed that the account shutdowns resulted from a review connected to US sanctions compliance.
YouTube stated the account terminations were based on "its obligation to comply with applicable trade and sanctions laws."
Reactions from Human Rights Advocates
Human rights defenders and Palestinian groups claim the actions suppress Palestinian voices and erase vital evidence of rights abuses.
The organizations were not warned prior to the deletions, and the removals targeted groups reporting abuse rather than extremist content.
International Context
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case accusing Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza.
Author's summary: YouTube’s removal of videos from Palestinian human rights groups following US sanctions raises concerns about censorship and the erasure of critical evidence documenting alleged Israeli violations.