Case Description
Due to a technical glitch, our public comments portal for cases related to the "From the River to the Sea" phrase closed earlier than planned. To ensure everyone has a chance to share their input, we've reopened it for 24 hours. The portal will now close at 12pm BST on May 23rd.
These three cases concern content decisions made by Meta, all on Facebook, which the Oversight Board intends to address together.
The three posts were shared by different users in November 2023, following the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Each post contains the phrase “From the river to the sea.” All three were reported by users for violating Meta’s Community Standards. The company decided to leave all three posts on Facebook. For each case, the Board will decide whether the content should be removed under Meta’s policies and according to its human rights responsibilities. Numbers of views and reports are correct as of the end of February 2024.
The first case concerns a comment from a Facebook user on another user’s video. The video has a caption encouraging others to “speak up” with numerous hashtags including “#ceasefire” and “#freepalestine.” The comment on the post contains the phrase “FromTheRiverToTheSea” in hashtag form, as well as several additional hashtags including “#DefundIsrael.” The comment had about 3,000 views and was reported seven times by four users. The reports were closed after Meta’s automated systems did not send them for human review within 48 hours.
In the second case, a Facebook user posted what appears to be a generated image of fruit floating on the sea that form the words from the phrase, along with “Palestine will be free.” The post had about 8 million views and was reported 951 times by 937 users. The first report on the post was closed, again because Meta’s automated systems did not send it for human review within 48 hours. Subsequent reports by users were reviewed and assessed as non-violating by human moderators.
In the third case, a Facebook page reshared a post from the page of a community organization in Canada in which a statement from the “founding members” of the organization declared support for “the Palestinian people,” condemning their “senseless slaughter” by the “Zionist State of Israel” and “Zionist Israeli occupiers.” The post ends with the phrase “From The River To The Sea.” This post had less than 1,000 views and was reported by one user. The report was automatically closed.
The Facebook users who reported the content, and subsequently appealed Meta’s decisions to leave up the content to the Board, claimed the phrase was breaking Meta’s rules on Hate Speech, Violence and Incitement or Dangerous Organizations and Individuals. The user who reported the content in the first case stated that the phrase violates Meta’s policies prohibiting content that promotes violence or supports terrorism. The users who reported the content in the second and third cases stated that the phrase constitutes hate speech, is antisemitic and is a call to abolish the state of Israel.
After the Board selected these cases for review, Meta confirmed its original decisions were correct. Meta informed the Board that it analyzed the content under three policies – Violence and Incitement, Hate Speech and Dangerous Organizations and Individuals – and found the posts did not violate any of these policies. Meta explained the company is aware that “From the river to the sea” has a long history and that it had reviewed use of the phrase on its platform after October 7, 2023. After that review, Meta determined that, without additional context, it cannot conclude that “From the river to the sea” constitutes a call to violence or a call for exclusion of any particular group, nor that it is linked exclusively to support for Hamas.
The Board selected these cases to consider how Meta should moderate the use of the phrase given the resurgence in its use after October 7, 2023, and controversies around the phrase’s meaning. On the one hand, the phrase has been used to advocate for the dignity and human rights of Palestinians. On the other hand, it could have antisemitic implications, as claimed by the users who submitted the cases to the Board. This case falls within the Board’s strategic priority of Crisis and Conflict Situations.
The Board would appreciate public comments that address:
- The origin and current uses of the phrase: “From the river to the sea.”
- Research into online trends in content using the phrase.
- Research into any associated online and offline harms from the use of the phrase.
- Meta’s human rights responsibilities in relation to content using the phrase including freedom of expression, freedom of association, and equality and non-discrimination.
- State and institutional (e.g., university) responses to the use of the phrase (e.g., during protests) and the human rights impacts of those responses.
As part of its decisions, the Board can issue policy recommendations to Meta. While recommendations are not binding, Meta must respond to them within 60 days. As such, the Board welcomes public comments proposing recommendations that are relevant to these cases.
Comments
“From the River to the Sea” is a colloquialism referencing the total plot of land annexed by the European allied coalition after WW2 and transferred from Palestinian ownership, to create Israel, forcibly so. The ICC recognizes Palestinian’s right to return. There is nothing inherently violent about referring to a truism regarding the totality of land which was colonized, unless of course you are referring to the inherent violence of colonialism itself. Leave the comments up. Free Palestine.
Given the history of the Arabs surrounding Israel specifically calling for Jews to be pushed into the sea, it is a known dog whistle for antisemites and Jew-haters. It’s a call for genecide against the Jewish people in Israel (and part of the call for genecide against Jews of the world.) The spokespeople of Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, specifically call for intifada against Jews around the world. The chant in Arab is “from water to water, Palestine is Arab” which means no other groups would remain.
The chant “from the river to the sea” is currently being used to support Hamas. Their charter was changed to make it more palatable to the west, but have in substance (as evidenced by Oct 7th attack) continued to honor the original wording of the charter. The chant is also a call in support of genocide, and in support of a genocidal terrorism organization. Because Canada and the USA acknowledge that Hamas is a terrorists organization, calls in support of this terror should be treated as agreement and complicity to this terror.
Although the phrase, "From the River to the Sea," is, in itself, a relatively innocuous phrase, and could be seen to have more than one meaning, it is clear to anyone who is paying attention to current events throughout the world, the phrase clearly advocates for clearing Palestine of Jews from "The River" to "The Sea." This means wiping out the State of Israel and all its inhabitants. This is not a statement that is appropriate for view on Facebook. It has too strong a connection to violence and has a clear anti-Semitic meaning for anyone aware of Middle East politics. The double meanings of the phrase should be enough to see it banned from use on the Facebook platform. I have seen, and had, other statements banned for far less intentions than this one. To do anything less would not be consistent with your policies and not living up to your usual standards as I understand them.
From the river to the sea is a call for Palestinian liberation and is in no way anti-Semitic. It literally says that Palestinians will gain the right to live and travel freely within their ancestral homeland that stretches from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea. There is no room to interpret it as anything other than a call for freedom and any attempt to do so is done with the intent to cause harm to Palestinians. The people of Palestine currently live under an apartheid regime controlled by the state of Israel. They are unable to travel within their homeland, they are attacked frequently by violent settlers, and they are unlawfully jailed without trial. They experience daily horrors of torture, murder, subjugation, and dehumanization at the hands of the oppressive Israeli apartheid system. It is not anti semitic to call for your freedom from an oppressor.
From the river to the sea is not hate speech in any way. Those who say otherwise feel threatened because they understand that the people wanting to be free (Palestinians) have reason to feel oppressed. Thus, these people (colonizers or colonizer sympathizers, ie Zionists) manufacture outrage and victimization in order for the legitimate victims of the violence and oppression to be overlooked and minimized.
From the river to the sea has historical origins that have only ever been built on a fervent wish for Palestinian freedom and equality. Israel cannot be all of the following: moral and just; an entirely Jewish state; and a full occupier of all land. Being the first negates their ability to do the rest. Palestinians want freedom, rights, and an end to apartheid. This can only be seen as a threat because they are asking for it from a government that refuses to acknowledge their human rights, continues to uphold apartheid, continues to manufacture reasons to kill innocent civilians, steals lands and evicts citizens from their homes, and continues to control access to water, food, and movement/travel. They refuse to relinquish any power over a people that have been controlled for over 75 years. When Palestinians say from the river to the sea, Zionists see it as a threat because they recognize that freedom from them is not possible under their current political/idealogical/genocidal aims. Zionists know that they refuse to live in unity with Palestinians, and so they attribute the Palestinian wish for freedom as something that can only exist with the nonexistence of Zionists. Sounds like they’re telling on themselves, doesn’t it?
“From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” is NOT an inherently Jew hating phrase. The chant refers to Palestinian liberation and end to the occupation in the entirety of historic Palestine. Palestinian liberation and an end to the zionist occupation in NO way calls for the death of all Jews. The Israeli occupation government does NOT represent all Jews and to suggest otherwise is a grave generalization. To suggest that the safety of all Jews is inextricably linked with the existence of an ethno-nationalistic state is dangerous and removes the responsibility we all have in ensuring each other’s safety, including that of our Jewish siblings.
Palestinians and anti-zionists should not have their content taken down, shown to fewer viewers, or banned from sharing for speaking out agains genocide. The word genocide should not be flagged. Genocide is NOT a bad word, it IS a bad thing. Palestine is NOT a bad word and should not be flagged. We should not have to jump through hoops to discuss, criticize, and organize in OPPOSITION to genocide. We should all have the right to discourse on liberation and democracy.
For Meta to include the phrase "From the river to the sea" or any rhetoric/symbols used to call for a permanent ceasefire - which is to call for an end to the incessant brutalization and murdering of the Palestinian people - and an end to the apartheid state that is Israel - a state that has and continues to violate international and humanitarian laws by continuing this genocide - as "Hate Speech", "Violence and Incitement", and/or "Dangerous Organizations and Individuals" would be Meta continuing its history of remaining complicit and actively participating in absolutely atrocious genocides.
Additionally, for anyone to even think about considering this phrase to be in the same category as actual "Hate Speech", "Violence and Incitement", and/or "Dangerous Organizations and Individuals" is a slap in the face to the people belonging to the marginalized communities whom these guidelines are alleged to protect.
The phrase “from the river to the sea” does NOT violate Meta’s guidelines, thus should not be restricted on any Meta platforms. Removing posts containing this phrase is a direct infringement on 1st amendment right and suppresses content from a targeted group of people, which constitutes discrimination.
There has been so much censorship towards people just trying to Stop the killing of innocent ppl. No one is asking for the annihilation of jews or judaism... in fact there are a plethora of Jewish people who are against the genocide in Gaza. Zionism just like white supremacy is the issue. Killing an entire people to settle on their land is the issue. Occupation, Apartheid, and Genocide are literally what we are trying to Stop...but meta and a lot of media outlets are trying to convey a different story and then they censor what's actually going on to keep the genocide going... all for money and greed and land, like what?
"From the river to the sea" is not a quote about attacking anyone... it's a quote about resistance towards these capitalist systems that are trying to keep everyone in control so they can continue to drain the world and its people of every resource for their own greed.
“From the River to the Sea” is a call for basic rights and equality for the people in the land of historic Palestine. Not all Jews are Zionists. In fact, many Jews are on the forefront of the pro Palestine movement. There is also a SIZABLE portion of Christians who identify themselves as Zionists. Simple use of the term is not itself antisemitism.
I have witnessed both written and verbal statements that include “from the river to the sea” by protesters that clearly state they support hamas despite it being a terrorist group, and moreover, fully acknowledge they understand it means the destruction of Israel, Zionists, and Jews. Let’s all be honest, this is absolutely a form of hate speech and should not be allowed. I am in favor of free speech BUT not hate speech. It’s not productive. It’s beyond ironic that the people who claim they want to prevent genocide of Palestinians are the ones who seem to most want genocide via the elimination of Jews. Insane and shameful.
Freedom of speech. You don’t get to police this and not other languages that are actually violent and inciting of it. It will be lawsuit after lawsuit. To ban this is to be siding on racism and complicit in genocide. Evolve already. Be on the right side of history. Censoring is never it. You will definitely plummet as a true space of communication and engagement.
"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". Don't forget there is a second part to this phrase which reinforces liberation of Palestine. I refer you to the UN resolution 3236 that reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty, and the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property.
From river to sea is a call for genocide of 9 million Israelis, which includes half of the world’s Jewish population, 2 million Arab Israelis, and other minorities such as Druze, Arameans, etc.
It calls for the annihilation of the world’s only Jewish state to be replaced by a state that has never existed as a self governing state, that would strip Israelis of their self determination.
It is the very definition of antisemitism and extremism.
Meta is complicit in genocide and cases of ethnic cleansing globally because of their skewed algorithms which privilege and protect the systems and the voices of system actors who perpetuate these crimes against humanity. Meta is as corrupt as our governments and have a hand in the suppression of voices of dissent which challenge the dominant system worldview aka colonialism and imperialism. Currently, Meta is allowing the suppression of Palestinian voices and creators who are documenting their own genocide. Palestinians deserve to live, Gaza deserves to live and the fact that Meta is benefitting from the suppression of Palestinian voices during this time and any time is repugnant. Palestinians deserve a voice and they deserve to share what’s happening TO THEM. The lack of restricting israeli accounts who are clearly and unapologetically perpetuating hate speech, violence and abuse towards Palestinians is in stark contrast to the censorship that Palestinians have endured while also ensuring this violence and abuse from israelis. Meta’s affiliations and allegiances with the genocidal, colonial occupier israel is clear and is despicable. Meta is an organization made up of people, where are these people’s humanity?
Meta has systematically censored voices speaking up for Palestine. I have experienced HEAVY censoring. For a month I couldn't: follow. Like. Comment. All my captions disappeared when I posted. I couldn't tag people. I had no warning. When I went to account status it said I had no restrictions. I reported EVERY DAY for WEEKS, never got any response. So I started a second account since the only thing I could do was post to story. That account I have been able to use almost unhindered up until about a week or two ago. All of a sudden I get warnings left and right, all my comments got removed as spam. And when you do that , I can't appeal. I even got a warning for false information, on a post that had disappeared from my story a few days prior. I couldn't do anything about it either because It wasn't there anymore. And today you decided to suspend my account! I had do register my phone number to be able to appeal it. I'm not ok with that. I also got it back IMMEDIATELY, which proves that all it was was censoring and forcing me to give out personal information I did NOT WANT TO SHARE. SOOO many people have been shadow banned and suspended because YOU don't want the truth to come out! We see you. We see what you do!
The phrase “from the river to the sea” is a call for liberation. If you ask the people chanting it what it means to them, they will tell you it is a call for liberation from brutal oppression. The only people claiming it to be something else are the people who are actively oppressing and supporting genocide.
This is an absolutely insane discussion. There is such a vast difference between the actual ongoing genocide occurring in real time by Israel against Palestinians and the fear that a genocide might occur. These are completely different things. One is real and happening and soaked in blood, the other is a fear of something that is not happening.
It is horrifying, though not surprising, that as Israel began a ground invasion of Rafah, which has become a massive refugee camp over the last months of this genocide, Meta was restricting accounts of people who think genocide is wrong. Once again, Meta finds itself complicit in genocide. The first time, in Myanmar, Facebook could claim some amount of ignorance, that it’s just the algorithm. In this case, Meta is actively participating in the genocide of Palestinians. Meta is showing us that it supports ethnic cleansing and actively participates in genocide.
why is "from sea to shining sea" not under scrutiny for censorship? is it a phobia of arab peoples? it sure seems like it. this is bad PR to even consider censoring "from the river to the sea", while comments encouraging the genocide against palestinians get ignored.
From the River to the Sea essentially refers to giving LAND back to Palestinians as it was before the STATE of Israel was illegally created in 1948. That process does not require the elimination of any PERSON. Just because white supremacy historically has taken land violently from people, you don’t have to interpret giving the land back as being equally violent. Criticizing the STATE of Israel is not antisemitic as it is not a PERSON it is a political ideology.
Just recently, the US gave land back to Native Americans in California. A beautiful and just thing. There was no violence involved. Period.