‘From the river to the sea’ doesn’t violate Meta rules: Oversight panel
Al Jazeera
Panel says phrase, often used in solidarity with Palestinians, does not violate platform’s hate speech rules.
Meta’s independent oversight board has ruled that the phrase “from the river to the sea”, often used in solidarity with Palestinians, does not in and of itself violate the company’s current policies.
The decision on Wednesday from the panel, which makes final determinations on the platform’s content moderation decisions, followed a review of three posts. It comes amid a wider debate over the phrase, which has been prominently used by protesters in solidarity with Palestinians and against Israel’s nearly 11-month war on Gaza.
It refers to the geographical area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, which encompasses Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
“In upholding Meta’s decisions to keep up the content, the majority of the board notes the phrase has multiple meanings and is used by people in various ways and with different intentions,” the panel said.
“Specifically, the three pieces of content contain contextual signs of solidarity with Palestinians – but no language calling for violence or exclusion,” it added.
