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 = the elimination of Israel on its Jewish and Arab inhabitants
This is a threat on my life because it revoke my right to exist in the state of Israel.
Whoever says “from the river to the sea” must know that it is nothing more than dangerous euphemism. It masks the real meaning of the phrase which means “eradication of the state of Israel”. No one should have the stage to call for an eradication of a state, a people, a race, a gender, or a sexual preference. He/she who says “from the river to sea” should be treated as if he/she said “death to all Jews” and no social media should accept such dangerous propaganda.
This sentence actually means to destroy Israel.
The essence of this term means: erase Israel.
Israel has a right to exist. This is very offensive
This form of expression is clearly anti-Semitic as it leaves no room for the single Jewish state in the world. Demarks the massacre of all Jews within the entire state of Israel, many of them are descendants of holocaust survivors.
It is extremely offending to 10 of millions, and against the cars of the human race.
“From the river to a he sea” is a statement that refers to the elimination of the state of Israel…
Moreover it is usually used by people that do not understand is true meaning and purposes.
הביטוי מהנהר ועד בים פלסטין תהיה חופשית
מערער על זכותה של מדינה ריבונית מוכרת להתקיים
זה ביטוי אלים הקורא לאלימות על מנת לקיים אותו
1) As an Israeli, I can confirm that the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is widely used in Israeli left discourse. Used by Israeli Jews, is cannot be considered antisemitic or constitute hate speech against Israelis or Jews.
2) The phrase refers to the geographic area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan river, shared by both Israel and Palestine. It is a fact that both peoples can share it (albeit not currently equally and without freedom to both). It is therefore not exclusionary.
3) Palestinian political emancipation and a safe existence for Israelites are not mutually exclusive. Both can exist side by side.
4) In fact, a proposition of mutual exclusivity, combined with an Israeli / Zionist demand to ban the use of the phrase only by pro Palestine campaigners, suggest a desire (backed by actions) for Israeli domination, violence and annihilation against Palestinians.
5) Israeli politicians and other public figures routinely use the visual symbolism of an Israeli presence from the river to the sea (including Gaza and the Golan Heights). Again, and referring to point 4) above, if this visualisation or reference to ‘the whole Israel’ (Eretz Israel Hashlema) constitute hate speech - the same standards should apply to both parties.
6) Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 2023, in what the ICJ and many international institution consider to constitute a genocide, has unleashed famine on millions of people and is currently facing sanctions by a number of governments and an international boycott by thousands of institutions. It is widely considered to be the oppressor and should not be capitulated to.
7) Israel runs a mass and well funded propaganda operation (Hasbara), which covers all media. Its demand to control, limit and censor the language used by pro Palestine campaigns is another weapon in its Arsenal and should not be treated as neutral.
8) From a political perspective, the phrase is used by campaigners to describe a hopeful future where peace and harmonious coexistence is achievable for all people between the river and the sea and where one nation’s safety and freedom guarantee the safety and freedom of its neighbours. That is how I always understood and used the phrase and that’s how I believe most campaigners and activists understand and use it.
In conclusion, the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ should not be considered antisemitic or constitute hate speech. It does not violate Facebook policies on hate speech, does not entice violence or encourages terrorist activities.
Seeking to ban it, at all times, but especially in the context of the mass violence already inflicted on Palestinians, constitutes censorship of free speech.
From the river to the sea is a call for the annihilation of Israel and a call for a new genocide of the Jewish people.
You may be critical of the government of a country but there are no excuses to call for the extermination of its people in the name of liberty
I know that one day, historic Palestine will be a free place for Palestinian people. I have to believe justice will prevail. It will be a democratic state for all it's citizens whatever their ethnicity.
The Likud party believe it (and further) will be a Jewish state. I disagree with thier vision, but I would protect there right to state their beliefs/ wishes.
Hello.
This phrase IS genocidal. Not "interpreted by some", not "can be experienced as", etc.
It is NOT a subjective experience, this is gaslighting us.
It is by any objective measure, a call to ethnically cleans Israel from Jews.
Originally it's a phrase coined by HAMAS and its original version is "From the river to the sea Palestine will be ARAB". They have modified it for the standard westerner's ear, and changed it to "Free" instead of "Arab". However it's deception;
It means FREE OF JEWS.
But you won't get it, because you come from values of ACTUAL freedom, and you can't fathom the word Freedom being used for massacre of a people to be "free" of them.
Now take that method and apply it to SO MANY ANTISEMITIC SLOGANS THAT CALL TO OUR DEATH THAT YOU INSIST ON REMAINING IN DENIAL ABOUT.
Stop projecting your life experience onto the Middle East. It costs us with our BLOOD.
It doesn't matter if some don't know it's genocidal.
Ignorance is not an excuse, especially when this ignorance results in loss of human life, and deep feeling of fear and terror when hearing/reading this.
Imagine a KKK rally where they chant to hang black people and you have a discussion on whether or not it's racist, because, well, maybe some of them just mean that they want to hang black people's coats for them;
This is just as absurd, let alone morbid and creepy.
It's about time the world starts believing Jewish people when we tell you someone wants us dead.
It took you SIX YEARS to come to terms with what the Nazis were doing and by the time you grasped the horror, let alone do something, 6 million of us were GONE.
Is it only when we're completely gone that you'll come to terms with it?
We have no intention to let that happen.
I can't begin to count how many vile, abhorrently antisemitic posts I've reported where I received that they "don't violate your policy".
You have been an active player in spreading so much hate against us.
Please stop being a part of the horror, and start fixing it.
עם ישראל חי
The expression “from the river to the sea” has been used by demonstrators around the world to express support for the Palestinian cause. This is entirely legitimate and humanitarian. The implied and often stated or chanted rest of the sentence is Palestine shall be free. This land is historically Palestinian and yet both colonial western powers and now Israel have prevented the legitimate rights of Palestinians to freedom and a homeland. The word “free” is important here. Using that phrase means freedom for all - a legitimate, inclusive and praiseworthy aspiration. Some Israeli politicians have used from the river to the sea to claim the whole land for a Jewish, Israeli state, which by its definition excludes Palestinians. You must not stop this phrase from being used and thereby close down legitimate and non-racist dialogue because there are extremists on both sides.
I understand that the meaning behind ' from the river to the Sea' Is disputed. However, when using language that another group finds offensive, we do not debate whether that language might be offensive. There are terms that white Americans might call the black community and in some parts of the United States some white Americans might claim that they grew up using that language in their household or that it is cultural. But we would never for one moment say to them- That's ok, because you don't find the language offensive, you should keep using it despite the offense the black community might take with it.
Why are we not doing the same with the Jewish community? There are those who say that the comment ' from the river to the Sea' does not call for the annihilation of Jews or for the destruction of the State of Israel. Many Jews however, read it exactly that way. If people are using language that another community construes as being deeply destructive and anti-semitic, I don't see why we are debating whether or not that language is destructive. Why are we ignoring what one community feels but choosing to uphold language that another community finds offensive?
From the river (Jordan) to the sea (Medit.) means cleaning the land from all Jews and throw them to the sea. It is racist and calls for Genocide. This parole is known already 70 years in the middle east. Please stop it.
We are living in a time where anti-Semitism is running rampant, this time under the guise of "anti-zionism". Calls for violence against jewish people have overtaken cities and college campuses with chants like "globalize the intifada" and free palestine "from the river to the sea". The river being the Jordan River and the sea being the Red Sea, essentially calling for the annihilation of over 7 million jews. Jews and Israelis are sensitive to these chants as we immensely understand the sentiment behind them, any other explanation is merely gaslighting. These chants are more than just chants, they incite violence and promote terrorism. These slogans are infiltrating our education systems that are supposed to be safe spaces and the minds of the most vulnerable - the youth. At a time like this, during a disgusting war and unhinged hatred, we should be joining together to March against war and terrorism. We need to educate, to engage in discourse with open-minds and sensitivity to each other as humans first. These slogans should be banned as they go against exactly that goal.