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
The meaning of this sentence is absolutely antisemitism. It means kill all the Jews and delete Israel. In a terroristic way, exactly like the 7th of October.
From the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea, there exists the only jewish state, with over half the population of jews in the world. Chanting from the river to the sea means to eradicate the only jewish state, and to send the 7 million jews in it (out of almost 10 million people, where about 2 million are Israeli Arab-Palestinians with Israeli citizenship), to god knows where: In a good case to europe where 25% (half of one side) of my family was burned to death just two generations ago, and in a worst case you can guess what.
In addition, unfortunately, in order to keep Israelis safe there must be strict security over the palestinians since a significant percentage of that population wishes to eradicate Israel: Just see what happened at the Intifida 20 years ago where as a child I couldn't go out to restaurants or to public transport since I could meet a suicide bomber. Those terror attacks continue until today, but in smaller percentage and unfortunate outcomes due to Israel's "conquering" of the west bank, which is unfortunate but keeps Israelis safe. Until palestinians get better education which doesn't incite to jew and Israeli killing, the blockade may be removed in the far future, but currently it is impossible to remove it.
I do see your point of view, but Facts must not be ignored. There's no need for any context. The call "from the river to the sea" is calling for the elimination of the Jewish People. Regardless of their nationality (doesn't matter if you're Jewish American, Jewish Israeli or Jewish European)
in that case it's pure antisemitism!
I personally really try to avoid this kind of things but it's been almost 80 years since the ending of world war II and the killing of 6 million Jews. Encouraging Calls like from the River to the sea can't be heard in 2024 less than 80 years.
Because that what happens when you encouraging the extremists.
haven't we learned a thing?
אני בתור קוראת תגובות פשוטה מבינה מהמשפט הזה-
הקריאה מהנהר ועד הים מתייחסים לגבולות מדינת ישראל- המדינה בה הגענו אחרי שטבחו בנו בשואה , ולכן אני רואה בשימוש של הגבולות האלו שוב רצון להשמיד את אזרחי ישראל . למחוק את ישראל ולתת לפלסטין שהיא איננה מדינה את המדינה היהודית היחידה והדמוקרטיה היחידה במזרח התיכון. גם כאשר התגובה מתייחסת לשחרור הפלסטינים- שהם אינם כבולים כמובן, אלא בוודאי שאויבים שרצחו יהודים ככ רבים ב7 באוקטובר ואף תומכים ברצח זה גם בהמשך- כיצד אפשר לתת להם להיות מהנהר ועד הירדן בצורה חופשית? שיהרגו אותנו שוב ושוב ושוב? זה רצח עם היהודי. אף מדינה שבסכסוך לא תתן לאויביה להכנס בצורה חופשית ולכן הביטוי הזה מתיחס לרצח עם או השמדת ישראל באופן מדיני
תודה
Any language calling for the liquidation of any people or recognised state - cannot be tollerated.
"From the river (Jordan) to the (Mediteranean) sea" means ALL the geographic area of the jewish state of Israel.
This is antisemitic and calling for the genocide of the jewish people
In the nice perspective, it’s called for the destruction of Israel
You have to be very narrow-minded or anti-Semitic not to understand that this abominable sentence is anti-Semitic, full of hatred and may incite acts of hatred not only against Jews but also against other minority groups, as history has shown us in the past
These phrases are pure antisemitism, pure willing to destroy and wipe Israel off the map and pure support of terrorism.
This phrase actually says that Israel will cease to exist, this is antisemitism and hate.
In this Metter, we cannot ignore the underline statement behind this sentence. 'From the river to the sea', reffers to the territory of Israel, wich means the willing of it to be eliminated. No one talks there about 2 states solution. But only one solution that doesn't include Israel. How a call for a genocide can be permitted in this world or this platform ? Please take it to consideration
The phrase "From the River to the Sea" is perceived as offensive by many Israelis because it is often interpreted as a call for the establishment of a single state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which would replace Israel. This interpretation is seen as a denial of the right of the State of Israel to exist and is thus viewed as a threat to its sovereignty and security. The phrase has been historically associated with movements and ideologies that reject the presence of a Jewish state in any part of the region, which understandably stirs anxiety and opposition among many Israelis who view this as an existential threat. Additionally, the phrase has been used in contexts of rallies and propaganda that promote or glorify actions against Israeli civilians, further intensifying its negative connotations among the Israeli public.
This sentence justified the destruction of Israel and its people.
I think the best way to fight anti-Semitism and anti-israel comments- is education.
next time, if you comment "from the river to the sea"- maybe give the commenter a link to some info about what he or she shouting out loud.
maybe learning about the conflict, the numerous times arabs from gaza and the west bank got offered a 2-state-solution- and declined, hamas and Unrwa collaboration at educating gazans to hate- in schools, in the street, in summer camps.. maybe teach them what Hamas and some radicals think about people who aren't muslims- like the LGBTQ- the amount of hate they will receive if they'll ever want to come see Gaza . . . and so on.
the information is everywhere. but some people are so blind / lazy / ignorant / easy to influence. it's time to enlighten all you "WOKE" people. go get educated.
From the river (Jordan river) to the sea (Mediterranean sea) lays Israel, so for me the meaning of this sentence is the obliteration of the state of Israel which is also the only Jewish state in the world, and the only democracy and most tolerant country in the Middle East!
From the river to the sea Palestine will be free = free of Jewish people, by the tongue or by the sword.
Please do not allow such obviously anti-Jewish comments.
From the river to the see means the anyolation of the state of Israel.period!!! This suggests the killing and destruction of all and any Israeli and jews within the soverin state of Israel. Those who use this slogan are repeting the German Nazi idea in 30th namely the final solution to the Jewish problem. You must do right and annul for good the use of this slogan and similar.
אם אתם מאפשרים להשתמש בביטוי ״מהנהר עד הים״ אתם בעצם נותנים לגיטימציה לאנשים שחושבים שאין לי זכות קיום. הביטוי הזה מתייחס לכך שישראל לא צריכה להיות קיימת. אני ומשפחתי, צאצאים של ניצולי שואה שהגיעו לישראל בסוף שנות ה-40, אחרי שחוו שנים של סכנת חיים במחנות ריכוז והשמדה, אין לנו לאן ללכת. ישראל היא ביתנו. אני אשמח לחיות בשלום עם שכנינו הפלסטינים שמעוניינים בחיים משגשגים. הפלסטינים זכאים לחיים טובים עבור ילדיהם, כמו שגם אנחנו. אשמח לשתף עימם פעולה ואף לתרום מידיעותיי ויכולותיי. אך הביטוי ״מהנהר ועד הים״ שולל את קיומי שלי. אמנם אנחנו גרים במדינה קטנטנה אבל יש כאן מקום לכולנו אם נדע לעבוד ביחד ולא להלחם
Hello,
The phrase "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" came up in the past 8 months due to the war started by Hamas on 07/10. I think this phrase should be banned and categorized as anti-Semitic due to:
1. There was never a state called "Palestine". There were Palestinians in reference to the geographic location which was written in the Bible, and was written as "Philistine", so technically you can't "free" something that never existed.
2. How will Palestine be free? You can free something by either mutual recognition (agreement) or by force. Since this phrase is said together with "Intifada revolution" ("Intifada" = uprising, armed uprising). Those 2 phrases combined incite people, causing them to act and put terror attacks in motion.
3. By either direct link or otherwise, the number of anti-Semitic events around the world has risen around the 300%, most incident are linked directly to the protests and the phrases used. For example, Jewish students were blocked and prevented from entering the Columbia University, which was THE point of interest regarding the protest in which they used those phrases.
Some people may say prohibiting the use of this phrase hurts their free speech and the right to express themselves. This is a ridiculous claim, since no one is forbidding them from talking about the rights of Palestinians or criticize Israel in any other manner that won't contradict a whole population's right to life and to live in safety, which outweighs their right to say those phrases, Incite and acting in an anti-Semitic fashion, without hurting their right to express themselves.
To sum things up, I really hope Meta will do more to fight anti-Semitism, including banning certain phrases, banning people and closing pages/groups that do just that.
The Jewish people's life matter.
Sincerely,
Liad Yarkoni
From the river (Jorden) to the sea (Middle East), meaning obliteratiמע all Jews existing/living between the river and the sea, meaning all Jews living in Israel.
This saying, just 1 year ago, was only in the use of terror organizations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The fact that it is a common saying now, by many students, doesn't make it a legitimate statement, doesn't make me feel safe when hearing it, it is a saying of hate, terror, no peace.... and should not be respected or allowed in western world !