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
Jewish people this year have suffered enough. We were slaughtered in a massacre initiated by Hamas less than 100 years after we were brutally murdered in gas chambers and pits. Then persecuted by the world for our heritage. Since we make a minority .2% of the population vs 25% we are strong armed on social media. To publicly be called for our genocide diminishes who we are as a people to be nobody. It is harassment and the slogan is very antisemitic. It’s the equivalence of saying, “Kill all ________” it should be banned from Facebook and all social media sites because it is calling for death of a people and we all need to feel like we belong in the world. Also the only reason we make up such a small part of civilization is because we were constantly persecuted, scattered, and we never historically forced a religious inquisition or forced conversion. I hope you hear the words of our people and remember, we are the underdogs in this situation but we still matter as people and hope you consider banning this saying as a show of solidarity toward caring for humanity and all the beings who live on this earth. Thank you for the consideration.
I am writing in reference to the review of use of the quote, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.” Sadly, this has been a common refrain at the many protests at Universities and events lately. The “River” cited refers to the Jordan River, along the eastern border of the State of Israel. The “Sea” cited refers to the Mediterranean Sea, along the western border of Israel. When the ancient Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Romans in 136 CE., as a slap in the face to Israel, the Romans renamed the land “Palestina, named after the Philistines.” Palestine was never a sovereign nation. When the region was administered under the British Mandate of Palestine, anyone born in the region (Jew, Christian, or Muslim), was called a Palestinian. Those who use this phrase are leaving out two words; when the terrorist organization originally used the slogan, it stated, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free of Jews.” This is absolutely hate speech and intimidation speech, aimed specifically at Jews. Meta should not allow this message to be perpetuated on social media.
This phrase has come to express a call for the inhalation of the State of Israel. As opposed to a two state solution to the conflict, people who call for a "free Palestine" from the river to the sea actually want Israel to cease to exist--which means there again is no safe place for the Jews to live. It triggers me to read this phrase, usually attached to angry covered faces. I have family and friends in Israel, and I worry for their safety.
I'll make this very simple. "From the River to the Sea" means "destroy Israel". It is hate speech against the only Jewish nation in the world, and the historical homeland of Jews. Please classify it as such, and communicate to those using it in their posts and comments that their posts and comments go against community standards.
Usage of the phrase “From the River to the sea” has the effect of making members of the Jewish and pro-Israel community feel unsafe and ostracized. It is important to note that demanding justice for Palestinians, or calling for a Palestinian state, should not mean, as this hateful phrase posits, denying the right of the State of Israel to exist.
Anyone employing this phrase isn't concerned with conflict resolution. Instead, they aim to spark contentious dialogues, stoke hostility, and incite violence. A significant portion of those echoing this phrase lack understanding of the geographical features referenced or the historical and present context of the conflict. They are unaware of the realities on both sides and lack insight into effective strategies for ending this protracted conflict.
1. Originated in a terrorist organization (Hamas) charter.
2. Palestine was a name the Roman gave to the region that included 'Eretz Israel', but no Palestinian State.
3. This phrase is calling for the creation of a new Palestinian state in place of the existing state of Israel, that means the genocide of all Israelis (of all denominations).
4. This phrase is calling for the destruction of Israel, as an Anti-Zionist call that rejects the right of Jews for self-determibation and security.
5. It is Antisemitic and a recist call for violence.
6. It is prohibitive to a peace agreement in the region.
I am deeply saddened that Meta would allow such hate speech as “From the River To the Sea” chant that calls for an annihilation of Israel. This is racial, antisemitic language that is totally unacceptable. Israel is facing a smear campaign of lies that are unjustifiable in the face of Hamas’ brutal attack of October 7 th. Israel accepted & worked with Palestinians for settlements when NO MUSLIM country wanted to assist them. They are an undeserved pawn by Hamas against Israel. This is horrible treatment that is unacceptable for the Palestine people as well as Israel! Stop the hate rhetoric— you are a pawn in the hands of diabolical HAMAS!
“From the river to the sea” is where the state of Israel is, a state that was given by a democratic process in the UN in 1948. Chanting this means the hope to delete Israel from the map. This is a racist chant, antisemetic one that has no place in this world.
Am Israel Chai forever 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
I have been a Facebook member for many years, and enjoy the ability to interface with others. However, the virulent anti-Semitism that has arisen in the last half year or so should have NO PLACE on Facebook. The expression, "From the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free" is genocidal to almost the entire nation of Israel. That and similar expressions of hate speech against Jewish people should NOT be allowed. Similarly "Zionism is Racism." Etc.
From the river to see is a threat of antisemitism under the guise of patriotism
Haven’t the Jewish people suffered enough? Allowing slogans like “From the river to the sea” is antisemitism at its worst. Having been cast out of European and Middle Eastern countries, the Israeli people desire only the live in peace in their home. I do not pretend that this is an easy situation, but the hatred and viciousness expressed goes beyond what is protected by free speech. Enough! You must deny those who wish to destroy the Israeli people a platform for their demand for the destruction of Israel.
From the river to the sea is hate speech and you must flag it as such! Calling for the killing of all Jewish Citizens in Israel is genocide. Do not allow this hate speech to continue to fuel the attacks on Jewish people worldwide. Act responsibly and do the right thing. Surely Meta doesn't support killing an entire race of people.
The idea of in any way banningthis phrase would be ludicrous were it not so serious. It has been spoken in demonstrations about Gaza for many years, without protest orthe insidious allegation it is anti-semitic or anticipates an elimination of Jews. It is intolerable that expressions of support for Palestinians' full participation in a state which is on land they lived in until expelled 75 years ago should not only be subject to malign and politically motivated imposed interpretation but then banned. Do not buckle under political pressure. Do not forget that, whilst this semantic and even sinister debate goes on, over 34k Palestinians have been killed, over 70k wounded, the count of "missing" under the rubble effectively stalled at 7k and with 3/4 of dwellings gone, munitions unexplodedmaking return impossible and now Rafah under attack. Will any of Palestine ever be free in any sense? Our governments love to talk about level playing field in civilian life.. thennturn and look at this. If Israel permitted broadcastingfromnwithin Gaza, what would the world think?
I am the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. My mother lost all of her family during WWII in the gas chambers and crematoria of the death camps of Auschwitz and Treblinka. They were a loving family who wanted only to live in peace and prosper. One third of all the Jews in the world were the victims of deliberate genocide in WWII. No one cared, no one came to their rescue. Apparently, for the world at large that is not enough dead Jews. Meta, which has very little credibility when it comes to policing hate speech, will have no credibility if it continues to allow slogans that everyone knows means only one thing: MORE DEAD JEWS! "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is a call for genocide. It sanctions and calls for the murder of half the Jews in the world, the population of the only free democratic country in the Middle East, Israel, where two million Arabs live and enjoy the same rights as Jews. STOP the hateful slogans, Meta! BAN the hate speech or lose your relevancy.
There is no such thing as a Palestinian people group or language. The land has only been known as Palestine since the time of Roman emperor Hadrian in 135 CE, and he only did that to spite the Jews. The land IS free. You are just too brainwashed to admit it.
I find it difficult to understand why it is genocide for Israel to seek to remove Hamas terrorists but it is not genocide for Hamas and some Palestinian supporters to openly declare they wish to remove all Jews from the mountain to the shore…
This "slogan" has been used to intimidate Jewish people for decades. I've had it used against me in antisemitic situations, it is always used as a threat - the Palestinians will have all the land from the river to the sea and all the Jewish people who currently live there will be gone. It's a call for genocide or at best, expulsion of people from their homeland.