Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October and Israel’s subsequent disproportionate assault on Gaza, we have seen the slogan ‘From the River to the Sea’ become one of the most recognisable chants of the Palestine solidarity movement, frequently used during protests calling for a ceasefire. Its use is also subject to intense public debate and restrictions.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned with the blunt efforts of governments, educational institutions and social media platforms to censor and even criminalise the use of the slogan.
In our briefing, we provide an overview and recommendations for states and social media companies on how international human rights standards should guide responses to the controversial slogan.
We argue that states should refrain from blanket bans on ‘From the River to the Sea’ or any other slogans. Blanket prohibitions typically do not meet the standards for restricting freedom of expression under international human rights law.
The restrictions we have seen are also counterproductive to promoting equality, as they fail to address the underlying social roots of prejudice and intolerance in society.
In our briefing, we also recommend that social media companies refrain from imposing blanket bans on ‘From the River to the Sea’ on their platforms as these will be generally inconsistent with their human rights responsibilities. Content with the slogan should be removed only when it violates a specific aspect of community guidelines or policy, for example on harassment or hate speech.
Any restrictions on the use of the slogan must comply with international freedom of expression standards and must be considered on a case-by-case basis. These standards must be fully respected when restricting not only this slogan but any expression surrounding the conflict in Israel and Palestine.