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, Palestine will be Free” is an open call for the complete annihilation of the State of Israel and its citizens.
This is 100% genocidal hate speech that advocates for the destruction of the one and only Jewish state and the mass murder of its Jewish population.
Palestine is a region predating biblical times. The map by Ptolemy shows the territory extending from the Mediterranean and East of the Jordan River. Palestine extends from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean).
Prior to the establishment of the state of Israel (and the accompanying Palestinian state) in 1948, British Mandated Palestine extended from the river to the sea.
From the end of the 1st world war, the Jewish population of Palestine grew from 5%, mainly due to illegal migration of European Jews, funded by Zionist organisation. Some of these Jews formed terrorist organisation to attack the British and displace the local population in order to further their Zionist dream. The eventual partition plan for Palestine unjustly awarded a disproportionate percentage of the territory to a Jewish state, largely consisting of European colonialists.
Restoring Palestine to it's rightful owners, the semitic peoples who inhabited the land after the fall of the Ottoman empire is just thing to do. From the river to the sea relates to freeing Palestine from the European colonialists, and this is a phrase used by Muslim, Christian and Jewish Palestinians. This phrase in neither rasist nor antisemitic.
I agree with the United States House of Representatives who recently passed a resolution condemning the popular pro-Palestinian chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic. Please join Congress and make this statement unacceptable on Facebook and any other social media platforms.
Thank you,
Jennifer Kogan, LICSW, RSW
This genocidal phase calls for the elimination of an entire country. It should be banned, therefore.
When used to support Palestinian interests, the phrase “from the River to the Sea” is anti-Jew. The mantra is derived from the Arabic, which explicitly calls for the region from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea to be free of Jews, but which has been selectively translated for the English-speakers as “from the River to the sea, Palestine will be free”. Use of the phrase is an overt call for the elimination of Jews, by any means necessary, including genocide or forced conversion.
Notably, Israel is home to multiple religions, while the Palestinians have been hostile to non-muslims, to the point where Jews cannot live there, and Christians also feel threatened and are leaving. Any call for Palestine to be “free” should be met with skepticism until they can end their hostility towards Jews, and tolerance towards others.
The phrase 'from the river to the sea' 8s clearly antisemitic, as the definition of it means that jews should be expelled from Israel.
As a jew I pledge to you please don't let this be written on your site!
The Impact and Interpretation of the Slogan "From the River to the Sea"
The slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" unequivocally symbolizes anti-Israel rhetoric and is recognized as a call for genocide against the Jewish people. Associated with Palestinian groups such as Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)—both designated as terrorist organizations by Canada and the United States—this phrase originates from campaigns that deny the Jewish right to self-determination and advocate for the elimination of Israel.
The usage of this slogan, particularly highlighted during conflicts between Israel and Hamas, is contentious and constitutes hate speech. It is considered criminal incitement and the willful promotion of hatred against the Jewish community, especially when accompanied by:
Public display of iconography associated with listed terror entities.
Inciteful tone and wording in speeches and chants.
Display of terrorist flags and hateful signage.
Legally, the chant falls under the Criminal Code of Canada, specifically Section 319, which addresses the public incitement of hatred and the willful promotion of hatred against identifiable groups. Several countries, including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Estonia, have criminalized this phrase, recognizing its potential to incite violence and hatred.
The persistent use and propagation of this slogan on Meta’s platforms not only undermines the safety and dignity of the Jewish community but also contravenes our commitment to preventing the spread of violence and hate. It is imperative that such content be rigorously monitored and removed to maintain a safe and respectful online environment. This approach aligns with Meta’s ethical responsibilities and is essential for compliance with global standards on preventing hate speech and promoting communal harmony.
Meta Community Standards Violations:
Violence and Incitement: This slogan violates Meta's policies against content that incites violence, advocating for the destruction of an entire nation and its people.
Hate Speech: As a call for genocide, the slogan inherently involves hate speech against a protected group (Jews and Israelis), which is prohibited under Meta's guidelines.
Terrorist Organizations and Violent Groups: The slogan's association with recognized terrorist organizations contravenes Meta’s prohibitions against promoting or glorifying the agendas of violent groups.
In conclusion, it is imperative that the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" be removed from all Meta platforms to uphold community safety and respect. Allowing this phrase to persist directly perpetuates violence and hatred, which contravenes our commitment to creating a secure and inclusive online environment.
We must enforce our community standards consistently and rigorously to ensure that advocacy of violence and hate speech has no place on our platforms.
To provide further context and understanding, we have attached detailed primers on the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
These documents are designed to elucidate the historical and current implications of the slogan, its associations with recognized terrorist organizations, and its recognized interpretation as a call for genocide against the Jewish people. These primers are compiled from verified sources and include insights into how such rhetoric has been legally addressed in various jurisdictions, underscoring the necessity of its prohibition on our platforms. By studying these primers, stakeholders and moderators can gain a deeper understanding of the serious nature of this issue and the importance of strict enforcement of our community standards to ensure safety and respect within our online environment.
The phrase calls for an ethnic cleansing of the region's current inhabitants and promotes genocide.
There can be absolutely no doubt or disagreement that the phrase, "from the river to the sea," in part or in full as "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is an antisemitic, hateful message with genocidal intent.
Please see full comments uploaded.
Admittedly I'm shocked the question about the meaning of "from the river to the sea", a phrase that clearly represents hate speech - Jew hate - even needs to be asked. "From the river to the sea," requires erasing the tiny Jewish homeland, denying Jews the right to self-determination in a land where they're unquestionably indigenous. Moreover, obliterating the tiny Jewish homeland means elimination - execution? - of its 9 million residents, half the world's Jews. Nothing quite says Jew hate like cheering for dead Jews, does it??!!
The irony of taking a poll about the phrase "from the river to the sea"...........is there any other minority group but the Jews about whom we would query the general public to ask if a phrase is hateful towards that minority group? Would we seek public comment about a phrase damaging to Blacks? Tell members of the LGBTQ+ what defines homophobia? Of course not.
When a Black complains Confederate symbols are hurtful and traumatic, we rightfully pay attention. The person defending their right to display Confederate symbols b/c they 'represent their history' is undeniably viewed as biased, NOT as an expert in what constitutes racism.
Singling out the Jews alone among all minorities to deny their lived experience and authentic voices, to deny the Jewish people agency to define hate speech is conspicuous and poisonous. Chilling anyone could believe it's the prerogative of those who unequivocably justify the murder of Jews to tell the rest of us what antisemitism is instead.
The then head of the Moslem Brotherhood, Sheikh Hassan el-Bana, head of the Moslem Brotherhood, stated that in 1948 that “If the Jewish state becomes a fact, and this is realized by the Arab peoples, they will drive the Jews who live in their midst into the sea.” In no uncertain terms,Syrian leader Hafez Al-Assad, insisted in 1966, “We shall only accept war and the restoration of the usurped land … to oust you, aggressors, and throw you into the sea for good.” “In a final resolution," Palestinian Authority President Abbas has said, "we would not see the presence of a single Israeli – civilian or soldier – on our lands.”
Clearly when those lands are "from the river to the sea" the entirety is intended to be Judenrein - free of Jews. Free of Jews, just like the other Arab countries, who ethnically cleansed themselves of roughly a million Jews by forcibly expelling them in the 20th century. These North African and Arab Jews and their descendants expelled from homes where they had lived for centuries are now 52% of all Israelis. Go back to where they came from?
Continuing with those who would murder Jews, on June 1, 1967, Ahmed Shukairy, then-Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said, “this is a fight for the homeland – it is either us or the Israelis" said on June 1, 1967. "There is no middle road. The Jews of Palestine will have to leave. We will facilitate their departure to their former homes. Any of the old Palestine Jewish population who survive may stay, but it is my impression that none of them will survive.”
Hamas is out loud and proud about its intent to commit genocide against the Jews. Hamas Charter's Article Seven states, “the Prophet, Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him, says: 'The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: ‘Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,’ except for the Gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews.”
"From the river to the sea" is a call to "fight and kill the Jews", a call for violence; Israel has a right to defend itself and will. Giving those who would "fight and kill the Jews" any authority to determine what constitutes Jew hate is ludicrous. Do we query the KKK to decide whether something is racist? Of course not. Do we give authority to a homophobe to decide what homophobia is?
In summary, from the 'river to the sea' is unquestionably Jew hate because it's a blatant call to abolish the tiny Jewish state and execute its 9 million people. If a phrase that unquestionably references the intent to kill a minority group isn't hate speech, what is??!! Giving those calling for the death of Jews the authority to declare the phrase anything but hate speech is a powerful message to the Jews and it's not a good one.
The phrase originates from the Hamas Charter which is designated as a terrorist organisation
The aim is to remove the state of Israel from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea
Palestine was a name the Romans gave to the region which included 'Eretz Israel', but during this time there has been no Palestinian State.
This phrase is calling for the creation of a new Palestinian state in place of the existing state of Israel.
This phrase is calling for the destruction of Israel, as an Anti-Zionist call that rejects the right of Jews for self-determination and security.
It is Antisemitic and a racist call for violence.
It is prohibitive to a peace agreement in the region.
• israill is committing genocide.
• israill has been stealing Palestinian land with great brutality since 1948.
• israill has had a violent apartheid state for decades.
I say this as a Jewish American, and a Facebook shareholder, to focus on Palestinian phrases of resistance and libertarian is Islamophobic and pro-genocide. It shows your biased disregard for the murders of tens upon tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children. It shows your disregard for decades of brutal land theft. You are blaming the victims in a genocide. Focus on suppressing zionist lies and propaganda instead, like the lie that the slogan is somehow antisemitic. It is not.
Besides that, the phrase itself, "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free" is a perfectly acceptable slogan for liberation. Currently, Israill has stolen most of the Palestinians' land. More importantly, israill has kept Palestinians in a brutal apartheid state for decades. The slogan simply means that apartheid must end and Palestine must be freed across its borders. It is much like the freedom Black South Africans fought for and won from their apartheid. Ironically, it is much like the biblical freedom we Jews won from the Pharoahs. Imagine saying the modern Mezozah is antisemitic because it represents the biblical blood on the Jewish house doors.
Meta should be supporting Palestinian freedom, not trying to suppress it by suppressing speech. You need to suppress the zionist lie that Palestinian slogans of freedom, or any criticism of israill, are somehow antisemitic. This is not only a zionist lie but it actually demeans and degrades the definition of Antisemitism itself. Israill's genocide is antisemitic, not the fight against it. Israill is not a Jewish state and has no claim to determining antisemitism. Israill is an anti-Jewish state. Zionism is anti Jewish for being unjust toward Palestinians. Zionism is antisemitic. Not freedom from it.
This slogan specifically refers to the entire area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This includes the entire State of Israel, a sovereign country, and what has come to be called the Palestinian Territories. All issues of historic rights to the area aside, as well as long-standing international agreements, this slogan clearly means one thing: The sovereign State of Israel is erased. All the Jews lose their nationality. Only the Arabs have a country.
This slogan is clearly antisemitic. At the best it targets the Jews in the area for loss of their citizenship and rights. Given the actions of Hamas in October it means indiscriminate violence, murder, rape and dispossession. It does not belong in the public arena or in civilized discourse.
I encourage you to ban its use on Facebook or other Meta media.
The phrase “From the river to the sea” is clearly antisemitic and should not be allowed under any circumstances.
"From the river to the sea" refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. The phrase is understood to mean that this land ie. Israel should ease to exist as it does today.Whilst this phrase might have once indicated a non violent intent, it has become increasingly weaponised- especially since October 7th. It has been adopted as a violent and aggressive notice of intent. This phrase has been weapoised to an extent that it is disingenuous toclaim any more that it is not riddled with malevolence. Its purpose now is to intimidate and harass Israeli and Jewish people and it must be designated as hate speech. It has been used too many times now alongside calls to globalise the intifada to have tainted it beyond repair.
It is understood by those chanting it to be a threat against Israel's very existence and is perceived as such by those to whom it is directed. It would be wrongof Meta to disregard the clear intention that lies behind the use of this phrase. It is hate speech and must be banned.
I support free speech, but when free speech calls for the elimination of a whole nation, it can no longer be protected.
Please forbid that genocide slang
From the river to the sea is an eliminationist call for violence