Telegram ban: Android seeks to silence Palestinian Resistance

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
24 Oct 2023 07:19
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Android's move to ban Hamas' Telegram channels comes as the Resistance has acquired massive following after the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Fighters of Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, parade in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, on May 28, 2021. (AFP)

Android took down the Telegram channels of Hamas and its military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, just after the latter posted a video detailing the release of two elderly Israeli women through the Rafah crossing.

The Brigades has faced strict policies that ban its content on the largest Western social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.

However, Telegram has been a relatively safe alternative for organizations and media outlets that share content that targets the fabric of Western hegemony or take action against it.

Specifically, content that highlights aspects of the Palestinian struggle has faced increased censorship from social media outlets which have gone to the extent of removing content that includes keywords such as "Martyrs", "Al-Qassam", "Hamas", and "PIJ" among others.

Al-Qassam's main Telegram channel currently boasts 760,000+ subscribers and the Resistance faction shares important statements, updates, and video content regarding its operations. The channel has received more than 500,000 subscribers since the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

Andriod's ban does not mean that users can no longer access the channel. Users can simply download the application from Telegram's website and access Al-Qassam's chat.

As the Director of Al Mayadeen Online, Bahia Halawi, highlighted, Telegram offers the Resistance a space through which its content can be shared with a large number of people, who then disseminate it through other social media platforms that reach Western media.

بالأرقام.. الحسابات التابعة للمقاومة الفلسطينية على تطبيق تلغرام نمت بشكل لافت منذ 7 أكتوبر 👇

مديرة #الميادين أونلاين بهية حلاوي #طوفان_الأقصى #الثورة_الكبرى #فلسطين @halawiBahia @ramiaalibrahim pic.twitter.com/JiuC7OvDxD
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) October 22, 2023

Al-Qassam releases elderly women

Footage from al-Qassam Brigades' release of two captured elderly Israeli settlers.

One can clearly see the disparity in the treatment of captives and prisoners between the #Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, respectively. pic.twitter.com/JbcyJOeH2F
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 23, 2023

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, confirmed on Saturday that it planned to release two Israeli captives on "humanitarian grounds", but the Israeli occupation government declined the offer.

Egyptian media announced on Monday the arrival of two Israeli female prisoners, Nurit Ishak, and Yohevid Efshitz, held by Al-Qassam Brigades during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood at the Rafah border crossing.

He pointed out that the occupation "committed 8 violations of the procedures that were agreed upon on the day of the launch with the mediators."

This comes as Abu Obeida announced on Friday that the Brigades released two captive US citizens also on "humanitarian grounds".

The footage of the release highlighted the care with which the Resistance treats its captives, in stark contrast to how "Israel" treats Palestinians on a daily basis under occupation.

One of the women shook one of the Resistance fighters' hands saying "Salam" or "Shalom" in Hebrew as ICRC workers received the two captives.