Global outrage over YouTube deleting hundreds of clips documenting the crimes of the occupation in Gaza and the West Bank… and the platform responds

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Global outrage over YouTube deleting hundreds of clips documenting the crimes of the occupation in Gaza and the West Bank… and the platform responds

An American magazine revealed that the “YouTube” platform Hundreds of video clips documenting Israel’s human rights violations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank were deleted, in a move that sparked widespread criticism from international human rights organizations.

• “The Intercept” report: Digital collusion to conceal crimes, according to a report published by “The Intercept” website. The American, on Tuesday, said that the US government continues to pressure technology companies to cover up Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians, noting that “YouTube” It has targeted hundreds of Palestinian accounts and content since October 2023.

The report indicated that the platform deleted more than 700 video clips, including a documentary about mothers who survived the genocide in Gaza, in addition to investigative videos about the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Sherine Abu Aqla, and documentation of the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank.

• Deleting the accounts of Palestinian human rights organizations.

The report indicated that “YouTube” Accounts belonging to a number of Palestinian human rights organizations were closed, including Al-Haq Foundation, Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, because they shared content documenting Israeli crimes.

He added that the channels that were deleted contained long hours of field footage documenting the occupation’s violations of international law, including the killing of civilians and the bombing of residential areas in Gaza and the West Bank.

• Reply "YouTube" And its justifications

The YouTube spokesman said: Bot Bullwinkle said that the company adheres to US sanctions and commercial compliance laws, indicating that the deletion of content comes in response to US legislation related to sanctions imposed on Palestinian entities.

But human rights organizations considered this justification “a legal cover for censoring Palestinian voices,” stressing that the platform has become a tool for obliterating digital evidence of war crimes.

• Human rights organizations: Silencing Palestinian voices

The report quoted a spokesman for Al-Haq, saying that the organization’s channel was deleted last October 3 with a notice from YouTube stating that “the content violates general guidelines.” The spokesman said that this decision represents “a serious violation of freedom of expression and a setback to human rights principles,” adding that “US sanctions are being used today to obstruct accountability efforts and silence Palestinian voices.”

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which the United Nations describes as the oldest human rights organization in Gaza, also said that YouTube’s move "Protects perpetrators from accountability" It serves the agenda of impunity.

• Angry international reactions

For her part, Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of the “Democracy Now for the Arab World” organization, said that “succumbing to this arbitrary classification of Palestinian organizations, and then imposing censorship on them, is very disappointing and shocking.”

As for Katherine Gallagher, a lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, she said that “it is shameful that YouTube supports the agenda of the administration of US President Donald Trump to hide evidence.” On human rights violations and war crimes.