YouTube removes hundreds of videos from Palestinian rights groups

YouTube has removed more than 700 videos and permanently deleted the accounts of three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations, according to an investigative report published by The Intercept on Tuesday. The affected groups include Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, all of which had extensively documented alleged violations of international law by Israeli forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Content Removal and Documentation Loss

The deleted video content included detailed investigations of Israeli military strikes, survivor testimonies from war zones, and documentation surrounding the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The removals occurred in early October shortly after the United States government imposed sanctions on these organizations for their cooperation with International Criminal Court investigations into the ongoing war.

Platform Justification and Criticism

YouTube confirmed the account terminations resulted from compliance reviews triggered by US sanctions, citing the platform's obligation to adhere to applicable trade and sanctions regulations. However, human rights advocates have strongly criticized the removals, arguing they effectively silence Palestinian voices and eliminate crucial evidence of potential war crimes, noting that the targeted organizations focused on human rights documentation rather than extremist content.

International Legal Context

The video removals occur amid ongoing international legal proceedings concerning the Gaza war. South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice in December 2023 accusing Israel of genocidal acts, with several nations including Türkiye, Spain, and Ireland subsequently joining the proceedings. The ICJ has issued multiple provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent potential genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian access to Gaza.