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
This particular statement “from the river to the sea”, and other suffixes often attached are very harmful, as a significant number of people using it, do not understand its true meaning in the current context.
The way it is currently being used essentially is calling for wiping out the population of Israel, and further, is also calling for “death to Jews”
Sadly, but simply, the use of these words leads to a profound sense of Loss of identity and safety to many Jewish people. It causes and drives fear, and recalls memories from the 1930s and the rise of Hitler’s Nazi Regime.
What is difficult to express is the underlying emotional feelings that are aroused by the use of this statement. Genuinely and so sadly brings up significant concerns to anyone who has experienced hatred and anti-Semitic comments previously as well as for those who have lost family and friends through multiple conflicts over multiple decades. And specifically, including the holocaust, as well as the atrocities of 7 October
Free speech, is absolutely paramount to democracy and to humanity, but it must be also embedded with respect.
This current phrase in its use today is anything but respectful.
I Thank you for making the space for people to provide their views on this topic. I understand there will be those who disagree with what I am saying.
I would however strongly urge you to err on the side of restricting (Hopefully banning) the use of this highly charged emotive statement.
This phrase is a form of hate speech. It calls for the elimination of the state Israel along with all the Jews the reside within it. It is a threat and calls for the genocide of Jews.
“From the River to the Sea” is a call for genocide of the Jews. In Arabic this phrase translates to “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Arabic”. This implies a removal of Jews, the native inhabitants, from the land of Israel. While a milder interpretation is ethnic cleansing, since there is no other place for the Jews to go it really does imply genocide.
The call "from the river to the sea palestine shall be free" is a battle call used by anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish terrorist organizations and their supporters calling for ethnic cleansing of the area between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean sea, meaning that it should be free from Jews. Also there is no sich country as "Palestine" and calling for it to be free from the river to the sea is implying that Israel (a country which really does exist) should be annihilated. Also note that this call was marked as an anti-Semitic by the US government.
The phrase 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' calls for the establishment of a Arabic Palestinian state from the Jordanian River to the Mediterranean Sea. There are only 2 ways this could be achieved -
1 - by integrating Israel, the only Jewish country in the world with an Arabic Palestinian state and allowing both peoples to live to side by side. A wonderful dream which is sadly not possible in our current world, having been eradicated by extremism, indoctrination, violence, anger and hurt.
2 - By annihilating the Jewish State of Israel by either killing or expelling 10 million Israeli citizens and replacing the Jewish State with a Palestinian Arabic state.
The trending statement 'From the river to the sea' is a call for the latter. A call to use violence to murder & expel a native people who speak the same language as their ancestors did, in the same geographical location over 3000 years ago. It is a call to arms, that agitates, incites and provokes violence. It does not call for peace, viable solutions or resolution.
I implore the oversight board to support Meta in being part of the solution, not adding fuel to the fire. To be a platform that furthers chances for a peaceful solution of an incredibly heated, complex and painful situation by removing this call for violence.
I am an Israeli Jew and I find “from the river to the sea” to be a legitimate statement. There is no reason to interpret it in the worst possible way. I believe that most of the time when people post “from the river to the sea” they refer to freedom, they refer to an end to the occupation. Legitimate wishes.
Sure some may mean it in a nationalist way, calling to eliminate Israel and its inhabitants. But first, that’s exactly how many Israelis use the same statement, in Hebrew, when speaking about the whole land of Israel, with a wish to have it free of non Jews. And second, so what. Let people express themselves.
May we all be free of oppression, from the river to the sea :)
This phrase is saying they support the annihilation of Israel and the elimination of the Jews. It is highly offensive and reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
Israel was given the land by G-D. It is theirs and no one else's.
The Phrase from the river to the sea is expressly calling for the extermination of ALL Jews in Israel. This is beyond Hate speech it is calling for total genocide of the Jewish people in their own country, so that the Palestinians have the entire country. No Jews. It is an Arab version of Hitler wanting them to be gone for once and for all. It’s beyond offensive, it is outright hatred to others based on their race and religion. Ugly and beyond disgusting.
Any organization that allows such speech is complicit in promoting genocide toward a people.
From the River To the Sea was the description in the Torah of the land of Judah/Israel. From the Ephratis River to the Mediterranean Sea. Those were the borders of the King David's Empire. It is total blasphemy and an insult to suggest that this land could belong to anyone else. Especially after the 2000 years of exile of the Jews from it and inability of any other state or country to make this land theirs. In any way legally or militarily. To even suggest that this land could belong to anyone else is a lie and invasion.
To call for the land to be free of Jews is hate and a call to genocide. A real genocide not a fake one like the Palestinians claim. This slogan should be considered hate speech.
I am a staunch supporter of Israel; however, I am not Jewish. I think Hamas are thugs and terrorists. That being said, Israel is engaged in a war of self-defence, and it is ridiculous to smear Israel with the label of genocide.
As a reasonably engaged and educated Canadian citizen, I also understand the meaning and ramifications of the phrase in question. I also am acutely aware that most Jewish acquaintances and friends of mine take great offence at the phrase in question. However, more than that, I am opposed to censorship by Facebook or any other authority. You (FB) have no damn business monitoring phrases in social media posts which some may find offensive, but do not directly call for violence and hate. This is an interpretation and while the phrase may be interpreted as racist, this is indirect. And it is a dangerous slippery slope to expand FB already too broad interference in social media content to start overseeing phrases and ideas put into writing. I do understand the Jewish position, but do not agree with censorship in this case.
Should be banned as it incites hatred towards Israel and all Jewish people and does not meet community standards.
The phrase, "from the river to the sea..." originated with a known terrorist organization, PFLP, and is now being used by another terrorist organization, Hamas. The PFLP, PLO, and Hamas have all called for violence against, and the eradication of, Jews. The phrase has always been a call to erase Israel, kill millions of Jews, and turn all the land Arab. The original Arabic even states that the intent is to turn the land Arab. It is a hateful call for genocide against Jews. It is hate speech.
"From the river to the sea" is a dangerous, hateful phrase associated with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While on the surface, it may seem innocuous, the phrase carries significant historical and political weight, and its usage is contentious and harmful.
Firstly, it is a call for the elimination of the State of Israel, as it implies the establishment of a Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, thereby encompassing the entire territory of Israel. This interpretation disregards the rights and security concerns of Israelis and undermines the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the conflict based on mutual recognition and compromise.
Moreover, the phrase is used by extremist groups and individuals to incite violence and promote hatred against Israelis and Jews. It contributes to the perpetuation of a hostile and divisive narrative. Allowing the uncritical dissemination of such inflammatory rhetoric on social media platforms exacerbates tensions and contributes to the spread of misinformation and radicalization. It creates a hostile environment for Israelis and Jews, leading to harassment, intimidation, and online abuse (that can-- as we have seen across college campuses-- turn into in-person abuse).
Therefore, to promote constructive dialogue and prevent the spread of dangerous and harmful ideologies, social media platforms should restrict the use of "From the river to the sea". This would help ensure that online spaces remain safe and conducive to respectful discourse, while also upholding principles of tolerance, mutual respect, and human rights.
From the River to the Sea is a known call to action to eliminate the Jewish presence in the Middle East. As stated in the original Hamas charter (https://irp.fas.org/world/para/docs/880818.htm), the goal of Hamas, which should be the goal of all Moslems, is to eradicate any Jewish population in the land of Palestine, which is an Islamic Waqf (Holy Possession). Indeed, "The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them". Just as every Islamic nation has forced its Jewish population to flee, a nation "From the River to the Sea" envisions the destruction of a Jewish state and the death of its Jewish population. This is a genocidal concept and should not be allowed to flourish on social media.
From the river to the sea" is a phrase that has been interpreted in various ways, but at its core, it symbolizes aspirations for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence. This is how I understand it. This is how all those around me understand it. It's important to emphasize that this slogan should not be seen as a call for violence or as anti-Semitic. It's about advocating for the rights and dignity of all people in the region, including innocent Jewish individuals, and promoting dialogue and understanding rather than conflict and division. Misconstruing criticism of Israeli policies as inherently anti-Semitic undermines the diverse voices advocating for human rights and peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region.
Murderous terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, use this phrase to destroy Israel, the only small Jewish state in the world. They are also doing everything in practice to destroy the State of Israel. This phrase that appears in their art is intended to destroy Israel. Therefore, it is a criminal, murderous expression that includes genocide and mass extermination and as they do, they burn the Israeli flag They also burn the American flag. We must not let terrorism win. What starts with propaganda Ends in death of people Pain That it should not be given space. As an Israeli, I want to embrace the whole world. And to spread love throughout the world, so that God willing, let us unite.
Posts that include “From the River to the Sea” are anti-Semitic and deeply concerning. Though some may use these words in solidarity with a people whom they want to support, they may or may not realize that they are supporting the exact action they are opposing to another group of people - Jews living in Israel. Please make use of this phrase in posts not permissible by Facebook. Thank you.
"From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free" should not be acceptable language. The area between the Jordan River ("the river") and the Mediterranean Sea ("the sea") is called Israel. This language refers to the desire to remove all Jews from this area, either by expelling them or killing them. The 2017 Hamas charter used this phrase to refer to wiping out all Jews from the area and destroying the State of Israel.
The fact is that Arabs who live in the State of Israel as citizens are already free. The people who call themselves Palestinians who live in Gaza have had the opportunity to be "free". Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and the Gazans have had 19 years to freely create their own Palestinian State, but have never done so. Their desire is to destroy Israel and have the entire land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea as a Jew-free zone.
The language "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free" is hostile language and calls for the destruction of Israel. It must not be tolerated. Other, more clear language is required to show the desire for peace, if that is what Palestinians really do want.