YouTube Deletes Over 700 Videos by Palestinian Rights Groups

In October 2025, YouTube quietly removed the channels of three prominent Palestinian human-rights organisations—Al‑Haq, Al‑Mezan Centre for Human Rights, and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—erasing more than 700 videos that documented alleged Israeli violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

These archives included raw footage of home demolitions, eyewitness testimonials, and investigations into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

A Digital Archive Wiped by YouTube

YouTube confirmed the takedowns were “directly linked” to U.S. government sanctions imposed in September 2025 on the affected organisations for their cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in probes of Israeli officials. Moreover, the company stated it must “comply with applicable sanctions and trade laws.”

Free Speech vs. Sanctions Compliance

Human-rights advocates argue the deletions go far beyond standard sanctions enforcement. They say the move reduced accountability by eliminating material that could serve as evidence of alleged war crimes. The affected groups claim they received no warning or meaningful explanation before their channels were shut down.

Critics also note a striking double standard: while these Palestinian channels were terminated, pro-Israel content—including controversial propaganda and militaristic rap videos seen by millions—remained online relatively unchallenged.

Why This Choice by YouTube Matters

This development raises three core issues: the role of big tech in moderating global conflict content, the use of sanctions as a tool to stifle dissent, and the fragility of digital evidence preservation in human-rights contexts. With access to open records erased, the capacity to build legal or historical narratives may be prejudiced.

In a time when footage from conflict zones can shape public perceptions and policy, the erasure of these archives isn’t just about deleted videos—it’s about who controls the record. Platforms like YouTube are no longer passive hosts; they become gatekeepers of memory, shaping what the world hears, sees, and remembers.

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