The US and the EU classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. Twitter, one of the world’s most important social networks, has now suspended the account that the organization used to spread its message of terror and hate.

After Twitter suspended the official account of Hamas’ military wing , the Al Kassam Brigades. The terrorist organization blamed Israel:

“The Kassam Brigades confirmed that they did not violate Twitter’s terms of service ever, asserting that reason behind the suspension is Twitter’s subordination to US government and ‘Israel’ as usual. Jewish-Christian incitation against the Kassam active account, so long exposed Israel’s war crimes and violations against the Palestinian civilians led to the suspension of the Kassam Twitter account. The Kassam Brigades strongly condemned the act and asserted its right to freedom of speech and expression and media.”

Let’s take a look at Twitter’s Terms of Service. Section 1 of Twitter’s TOS says:

“You may use the Services only if you … are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of the United States.”

Because Hamas is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under s219 of the USA’s Immigration Act, it is thereby “barred from receiving services under the laws of the United States”. By using Twitter, a company based in the US, Hamas was indeed violating the company’s Terms of Service.

Hamas demands freedom of speech and expression, but the organization has often been quick to censor and arrest journalists in Gaza, and anyone who speaks against them. Recently, Hamas shut down two media bureaus in the Gaza Strip. They are also known to beat up journalists whose coverage they don’t agree with.

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)