Meta’s Oversight Board rules that ‘from the river to the sea’ is not necessarily hate speech
NBCSEP 2024
Meta Oversight Board: 'From the River to the Sea' Not Hate Speech
Above: A protester holds a sign saying 'Palestine Will Be Free From The River to the Sea' in the Camp of Resistance on May 4, 2024 in Manchester, UK. Image copyright: Martin Pope/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
The phrase represents Palestinian aspirations for freedom and justice across their historical homeland. It's a call for liberation from oppression, not a threat to any group. Rather than being restricted, this slogan should be understood in its full context as an expression of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and peaceful coexistence in a land with deep meaning for multiple communities.
Pro-Israel narrative
Meta must restrict this phrase due to its ambiguous and potentially harmful connotations for Israel, which makes the slogan easily misinterpreted and allows critics to accuse well-meaning protesters of supporting antisemitism or genocide. Given the current situation in Gaza, using such a contentious slogan distracts from the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis. Instead, activists should opt for clearer, unambiguous language that explicitly opposes violence and supports human rights for all.