Facebook and Twitter 'Have Closed Some Major Hamas Accounts'

Major social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, have recently 'taken down' some significant user accounts related to Hamas. The 'Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades', the military wing of Hamas, complained in a statement from Gaza on Sunday, April 24, that its English and Arabic accounts have been 'taken down for the third time in the past two weeks.' The Twitter account of Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas, which had 156,000 followers, has also been blocked. According to reports, Twitter accounts of other Palestinian organizations supporting Hamas and also the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in major West Bank universities have been blocked. The military wing of Hamas accused Twitter of one-sided support for Israel and stated in its statement that this network does not equally respect freedom for all users. The statement from the military wing of Hamas noted that Twitter's handling of accounts related to Hamas occurs while 'Israelis are still allowed to continue racism, extremism, and terrorism' on this social network. The 'Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades' called on Twitter to reopen the main Hamas accounts but stated that it would not comment on the accounts of its supporters 'due to their privacy.' Some Hamas spokespersons in Gaza attributed the major social media networks' handling of their accounts and those of their main supporters to 'Israeli influence.' Facebook also recently blocked Hamas's main account on this network; then the account of 'Shahab', which is also aligned with Hamas, was taken down, having one million users. However, Facebook reopened the 'Shahab' account, and its user count increased to over five and a half million. The accounts that have recently faced action from Facebook and Twitter apparently encouraged Palestinian youth to continue the street violence of recent months against Israelis. Ynet, the website of the popular Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, reported on Sunday, April 24, that the blocking of major Hamas accounts on social media occurred 'in the context of increasing complaints made by the Israeli government.' Israeli officials have stated that Hamas has been 'brainwashing' Palestinian teenagers and youth through social media, especially young Palestinian minors who have, in dozens of cases, attacked Israelis with knives. In the street violence of the past seven months, 29 Israelis and several foreigners, as well as nearly 210 Palestinians, have been killed. Twitter and Facebook officials have not provided an explanation regarding the removal of several major Hamas accounts or their supporters. However, Facebook previously denied having an understanding with the Israeli government regarding the closure of accounts of groups that encourage violence against Israeli citizens, deeming the statements of Israeli ministers to be incorrect. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic movement, has been active in Gaza and the Palestinian territories for the past 30 years; in the last decade, it has effectively governed Gaza. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist movement and has fought against it multiple times; the last war two years ago left over 2,400 dead in Gaza.