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
Here's what I wrote under the part to input your public comment. Feel free to copy/ paste:
"From the river to the Sea" has one meaning and one meaning only. It refers to the complete destruction of the Jewish state of Israel in favor of creating a Palestinian one that would overtake the only safe country for Jews anywhere in the world - - Israel. It's the Palestinian claim to the ENTIRE piece of land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. It has been used by terrorist organizations that claim to aim for the destruction of the entire Jewish people, a genocide. It’s not a call for peace nor freedom. This phrase is extremely offensive and frightening to Jews everywhere, as it signals our complete death and destruction.
By continuing to allow this phrase to live on Facebook, you are enabling anti-Semitism to grow and fester on your platform, fomenting hate and driving further division in our society. Please take a strong stand against this.
I think the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea” should be prevented for the following reasons:
1. It means that Israel has no right to exist since it implies that all the territory between the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea belongs to the Palestinians. This is a call to eliminate a legitimate State from the map.
2. It encourages violence against Israel. The slogan does not offer a peaceful coexistence. It is clear that it refers to a forcible act towards Israel.
3. It undermines any peaceful end to the conflict and is threatening in nature to any Palestinian who wishes to negotiate with Israel towards a compromised solution to the conflict.
4. It is intimidating supporters of Israel and is used to shut up voices of those who wish to support Israel’s right to exist.
5. It has become a symbol that attracts violent demonstrations which are disrupting lives on campuses and in the streets worldwide. Violence that is threatening the lives of Jews and Israelis around the world and is causing severe mental anxiety.
The origin of this phrase The Bible. But today we dont need using that phrase- becuase today the use of it - only divides and not trying to see the peace.....
"From the river to the sea" is an antisemitic genocidal chant of the pro-Islamist Palestinian movement and should be banned from Meta for that reason.
From the river to sea means one state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean sea. It is used by Palestinians and their supporters and refers to a Palestinian state. As de facto under the Palestinian authority and according to the Hamas charter, no Jews will be allowed in this state, which means that the contested slogan is a call for genocide of the 7 million jews living between the river and the sea or their forced transfer elsewhere. This is therefore hatespeech which does not fall under protection of free speech and should not be allowed in FB.
הביטוי בעצם שולל אותי, את המדינה שלי ואת כל ההוויה שלי כאדם הזכאי לגור בארצו.
הביטוי שולל כל משא ומתן עתידי בין ישראל לפלסטינים ובעצם טוען כי הברירה אחת - חיסול המדינה היהודית היחידה.
הים מתקשר לאמירה של זריקת היהודים לים, לא ייתכן שביטוי המסתיר בתוכו קריאה לרצח עם יקבל לגיטימציה. זה אובד צלם אנוש, כזה שההיסטוריה עוד תשפוט את אלה שנתנו לכך לקרות.
This sentence is basically calling for the elimination of the state of Israel
This sentence is in Hamas charter which calls to kill all Jews - this is a call fo genocide
“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.
I submit these words to make my voice heard and to demand accountability from Meta’s Oversight Board.
I am jewish. I was born in Iraq. We came to live in Israel after 1948. israel borders was from west side the Mediterranean Sea Sea Sea
From east side was Jordan till 1967. From 1967 after that Jordan with other neighbours countries attacked Israel the border in east side
Become the Jordan river! River River,
I have no problem with Hamas if he mean any other sea not the Mediterranean sea and any other River not Jordan river because between them is Israel country. There is peace contract between Israel and Jordan but Jordan don’t want to receive back the people that live in wedt bank that was under Jordanian control!!!
As Egipt don’t want Gaza that was under Egypt control till 1967!!!!
Who day that his country should be from the river to the sea say that he want to sloughter all jewish civilians that live in Israel!!!!! Includ me and my family that live hete in Israel😢😢😢😢
Thank you FaceBook for considering this matter. It is my strong belief that all forms of hate speech, calls for violence and racism should be banned or face consequences. The recent acceptance of antisemitism and calls for all Israelis to die needs to stop.
“From the river to the sea” is a dog-whistle style call to make Israel Judenrein, Jew free, by eliminating (murdering) all Jews in Israel.
It is a call for the annihilation of all Jews in Israel… with the next step the annihilation of all “infidels” (non-Muslims) everywhere. You may not know this-indeed, many of the useful idiots chanting such slogans may not know this-but the Islamist agenda is plainly stated in the revised Hamas charter and the Muslim Brotherhood manifesto and the students and other “protestors” are being played by the dark money forces funding and driving them.
Ban this speech, please!
"from the river to the sea" is a term that means disappearance of the only democracy in the middle east that is the only home for jewish people.
The expression from the river to the sea is a call for the elimination of Israel and the extermination of Jewish people not just in Israel but everywhere!!! Understand what that expression signifies. Everyone, especially Jews, should vote for the prohibition of that genocidal phrase.
Islamist militant faction Hamas used the phrase in its 2017 charter. Usage of the phrase by such Palestinian militant groups advocates for the dismantling of Israel and the removal or extermination of its Jewish population. And the extermination of the Jewish population everywhere throughout the world. ANY USE OF THAT GENOCIDAL PHRASE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED BY FACEBOOK/META AND THOSE MEMBERS USING THAT PHRASE SHOULD BE BANNED AS TERRORISTS INCITING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE JEWS.
This phrase is deeply disturbing, it insists upon the violent resistance of the Palestinian people, which is their biggest downfall and the thing that prevents them from being.
Anyone who wants equal rights and sovereignty for Palestinians should advocate for the removal of this term because it only perpetuates their suffering and oppression through violence.
רציתי לציין שהמשפט הינו אנטישמי ברמות ומעלה שוב את רמת השנאה כלפי היהודים בכל העולם.
מאוד לא ברור איך ממלחמה שהתפרצה ופגעה בכל כך הרבה יהודים ישראלים הפכה את הכערה על פיה והציפה כל כך הרבה שינאה כלפנו ??
החמאס ניסה להשמיד אותנו והאם אין לנו את הזכות להגן על עצמנו???
The river is the Jordan river, and the sea is the Mediterranean. These are the borders of all Israel. There is no Palestinian state there, so that means that the Pelestinians want all of the land to themselves. That means no more Jewish state in Israel.
This phrase literally means to kill and annihilare all Jews just because they are jews.
This actually is a Genocide.
I think every sane person should be shocked from this phrase and ban the use of it, and I expect that from Meta as well.
Today it is us, but tomorrow it will be you.
We need to protect our world from the extremists, for all mankind
אבקש להוריד את המשפט הנ"ל, עקב היותו אנטישמי ומבטל את זכותה של מדינת ישראל להתקיים
Thank you for letting us express our thoughts and feelings. Whenever I hear the chants”from the river to the sea” I fear for my existence. I have three children. What future do they have? We have a country and now people want to take our country and make it a Muslim state. As you know - there are no Jews in any Muslim state (all 22 countries). However in Israel live more than 2 million arabs! I work with them. So when they chant this sentence they mean - death to Jews.
I wish social media would help minorities (Jews) and not help returning to the holocaust times 🙏🏻