YouTube has permanently removed the channels of three major Palestinian human rights organizations — Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) — following U.S. sanctions imposed on the groups earlier this year.
According to a report by The Intercept, the deletions came in early October, effectively wiping years of documentation that included investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes, home demolitions, and the killing of civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The takedown also included video evidence related to the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot during an Israeli raid in 2022.
YouTube Cites Compliance With U.S. Sanctions
A YouTube spokesperson, Boot Bullwinkle, confirmed to The Intercept that the platform acted in response to sanctions placed on the organizations by the U.S. State Department.
“Google is committed to compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws,” Bullwinkle stated, adding that the platform “enforces restrictions on entities under U.S. sanctions.”
The Trump administration first imposed sanctions against the three Palestinian NGOs in September, claiming their collaboration with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in war crimes investigations violated U.S. foreign policy interests. These ICC investigations focus on alleged Israeli crimes in Gaza and the West Bank — naming figures such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.
Human Rights Groups Condemn the Decision
Human rights advocates have strongly criticized YouTube’s actions, calling the deletions an attempt to erase evidence of human rights violations and suppress Palestinian voices online.
“These archives contained crucial visual documentation that could serve as evidence in international legal proceedings,” said one rights researcher, warning that the removal “undermines global accountability mechanisms.”
Filmmaker Robert Inlakesh also reported on X (formerly Twitter) that YouTube had deleted his coverage of Israeli soldiers shooting unarmed civilians, including children, during live-streamed broadcasts — part of the same removal sweep targeting Palestinian accounts.
Concerns Over Digital Censorship and Accountability
The removal has reignited debate over Big Tech’s role in shaping global narratives, especially in conflict zones. Critics argue that Silicon Valley platforms often enforce uneven moderation policies, disproportionately affecting Palestinian content under the guise of compliance and “security concerns.”
As of now, none of the deleted channels have been reinstated. Human rights advocates are urging Google and YouTube to restore access to archival footage, calling the deleted material an “essential record of state violence and civilian suffering.”
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