Instagram account had 4.5 million followers; documented Gaza genocide
Just days after being killed by Israeli forces, Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi’s Instagram account was permanently deleted by Meta, in what critics see as another example of Silicon Valley’s complicity in silencing Palestinian voices.
Aljafarawi, 28, was shot dead on Sunday in Gaza City’s Sabra district by members of an Israeli forces. Hours later, Meta removed his Instagram profile, which had amassed 4.5 million followers, erasing years of his reporting on Israel’s assault on Gaza and alleged war crimes.
His content has also disappeared from internet archives, including the Wayback Machine.
Over the past two years, Aljafarawi had become a prominent voice documenting life under bombardment for local and international outlets, including TRT World.
In one of his final videos — recorded the same day a new ceasefire was declared — he walked through Gaza’s devastated streets, sharing updates despite a widespread internet blackout.
According to Palestinian officials, as reported by TRT, Aljafarawi was killed during clashes on October 12 between Hamas security forces and members of a clan collaborating with Israeli forces. Multiple reports say he was surrounded by armed men and shot seven times.
Israel has been accused of arming certain Palestinian clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas during its ongoing war, which has killed more than 67,000 people in the blockaded enclave.
On June 5, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that Israel had “activated” some clans against Hamas, following recommendations from “security officials.” His statement shared on social media l marked the first official acknowledgment of Israel’s support for armed Palestinian factions based around powerful families.
Meta defended its decision to delete Aljafarawi’s account under its policy on “dangerous organisations and individuals,” a justification it has frequently used to suspend pro-Palestinian journalists and activists. The company did not provide any evidence to support its move.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese condemned Meta’s action, comparing it to “killing a journalist twice.”
“May the memory of the 250 journalists murdered in Gaza be honoured in the genocide museum that must form part of the reparations owed to Palestinians when this genocide finally ends,” she wrote on X.
