Digital Censorship of Palestine: how Social Media Erases the Reality

Palestinian Perspectives Are Being Deleted Online

As bombs rain down on Gaza, another battle rages online over the truth. Palestinian material is also being flooded with censorships across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter). Digital war on Palestine: whether through shadowbanning or outright deletion, the voices we need most silenced.

One Palestinian Social Media User vs. The Meta Machine

Since October 2023, there have been millions of social media users raising awareness of the Gaza War crimes. Yet rather than protect free speech, these big platforms have gone on the offensive, scrubbing all pro-Palestinian content.

According to Human Rights Watch, in their reports, it is mentioned that Meta (Instagram & Facebook) takes down posts that portray support for Palestine, while propaganda posts by Israel are left untouched.

Instagram removed videos of injured Palestinian children, calling them “violations.”

Despite journalists verifying the footage, TikTok removed recordings that showed bombed hospitals in Gaza.Rise your voice 

Majumdar News: Origin Of Authentic News

What is Shadowbanning—and How It Targets Palestine

Shadowbanning hides your posts from others—without any warning. It’s a silent method of censorship, and Palestinian activists experience it daily:

Posts stop reaching followers

Stories disappear within minutes

Accounts are suspended for no reason

Hashtags like #FreePalestine and #GazaUnderAttack are blocked

This form of digital censorship in Gaza limits global awareness of what's truly happeningHuman Rights Watch

Big Tech Is Not Neutral

Despite claiming neutrality, big tech companies have shown a clear bias.

Leaked documents reveal that Meta enforces secret rules to censor Arabic content about Israel or the IDF.

YouTube and TikTok have taken down verified videos showing the suffering of Palestinians.

Double Standards in Moderation

Posts about the Ukraine war remain online to “highlight human suffering.”

Posts from Gaza showing real tragedies are removed for being “too graphic.”

This shows a clear social media double standard—one that protects certain narratives while silencing others.

Silencing Gaza’s Journalists and Medical Workers

In Gaza, local journalists and medics are among the few who can show the world what’s happening. But their voices are being shut down too.

Reporters like Plestia Alaqad face account suspensions.

Trusted pages like Eye on Palestine are shadowbanned.

Verified information is deleted, even during critical attacks.

With no internet, electricity, or press freedom, social media is their only tool—and silencing them buries the truth.

AI Moderation Is Biased Against Palestine

Social media platforms use AI (artificial intelligence) to moderate posts—but it’s not fair. The algorithms are trained to flag Arabic words and pro-Palestinian terms as dangerous.AI Bias Against Palestine”

Words like “martyr” or “resistance” are labeled as terrorism.

Pro-Palestine content is automatically taken down.

Meanwhile, hate speech against Palestinians often stays online.

This AI bias erases Palestinian identity and rewrites the digital narrative.

Majumdar News: Origin Of Authentic News

What You Can Do to Resist Digital Censorship

Don’t let the truth get buried. Here’s how you can help #StopSilencingPalestine:

Share deleted or censored content from Palestinian creators

Spell things differently (like “P@lestine” or “G@za”) to escape words filters

When censorship occurs, tag @instagram, @meta and @tiktok

Support and follow independent news organizations covering Gaza

Use your voice — every post matters

This censorship, as well as the FAQs:

Q: Why is Palestine getting censored on social media?

A: Platforms such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are charged with suppressing pro-Palestinian postings with shadowbanning, keyword blocking and content removals, particularly during crucial moments in Gaza.

Q: What is shadowbanning?

A: Shadowbanning refers to when platforms suppress a user without their knowledge. It severely cuts visibility, reach, and engagement, so it feels like their voice is gone.

Conclusion: The Struggle for Palestine Includes the Internet

Digital censorship is a kind of oppression. When Palestinian voices are silenced on the internet, so too is the truth, and the violence rages on unabated. You can do something to make that different. Use your platform to spread the truth — because every view, like and repost counts.