YouTube has reinstated a video that pays tribute to Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, after removing it multiple times. The decision followed online backlash from an American activist and others.
The video-sharing site initially said the footage, which was posted by Palestinian academic and activist Sana Kassem, violated its terms of service. It was then removed.
It was reposted by American professor and activist Norman Finkelstein, but it was removed once again. He then wrote to YouTube, asking for a reason behind its decision.
The site reportedly wrote back to Finkelstein, telling him that the video would be reinstated but with an age restriction. The activist noted on Twitter that such a move is typically done for adult content. “YouTube reposts Gaza video, but classifies it pornography,” he wrote.
Youtube reposts Gaza video, but classifies it pornographyhttps://t.co/6TnzQw8YYj
— Norman Finkelstein (@normfinkelstein) April 25, 2018
Finkelstein also noted on his website that, although YouTube removed the tribute video, it allows videos that show Palestinians as perpetrators – rather than victims – to stay on the site.
The video by Kassem was “in memory of the dead, and to avert more Israeli killings,” he tweeted. It comes amid the ‘Great Return March’ on the Gaza border, which has seen at least 40 Palestinians killed and at least 5,000 others wounded. One of the latest victims was a 15-year-old boy.
The protests, which have been taking place since March 30, are scheduled to continue until ‘Nakba’ on May 15. Palestinians mark Nakba as the day of the mass exodus from their land as a result of the establishment of Israel.
(RT, PC, Social Media)
