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Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi's Instagram 'suspended indefinitely'
A prominent Palestinian journalistÌýhas revealed that two of his Instagram accounts, which had a combined following of 9.5 million people,Ìýwere suspended, prompting concerns over censorship against Palestinian voices online.
In a posted on his new backup account, journalist Saleh Aljafarawi expressed frustration and disappointment over the loss of his two major accounts, which he said were removed by Instagram without warning.
"Unfortunately, they were both deleted at the same time, at a moment when I needed them the most. Right now, I don’t have any Instagram account except for this one that you’re seeing me from," Aljafarawi said.
Aljafarawi, who has been documenting Israel's devastating war on Gaza, used his platforms to share first-hand accounts of devastation on the ground - offering a perspective largely absent from Western media, where journalists have been barred from reporting from Gaza.
The journalist also announced that his deleted accounts were crucial to his ongoing campaign to rebuild Al-Nasr Children’s HospitalÌýin Gaza, which was destroyed during Israel's relentless onslaught.
"Both of my deleted accounts were a crucial part of this campaign and its success. But I swear to God, with or without them, we will continue," Aljafarawi vowed.
"We will not stop. We will keep going, with you and alongside you, God willing. Hand in hand, together, we can be a support system for Gaza’s children and make this campaign a success."
The reported removal of his account has fuelled renewed accusations against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, which has faced repeated allegations of silencing Palestinian voices online.
Meta has long been accused of censoring Palestinian journalists, influencers, and media outlets by closing accounts, shadow-banning content, and suppressing engagement — a practice activists say has had a "devastating" impact on Palestinian visibility online.
The New Arab has contacted Meta for comment.
In December, the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, known as 7amleh, published a report highlighting Meta’s systematic censorship policies, which have led to financial losses, emotional distress, and increased self-censorship among Palestinian content creators.
Aljafarawi joins a growing list of Palestinian journalists — including Bisan Owda, Hind Khoudary, and Moataz Azaiza — who have provided raw, unfiltered coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, often challenging the dominant pro-Israel narratives prevalent in Western media.
The erasure of these voices has intensified concerns that Meta’s censorship policies are playing a role in silencing Palestinian narratives at a time when independent reporting from Gaza has become increasingly vital.