"Meta" closes the account of martyr Anas al-Sharif on Instagram and blocks his journalistic archive on Gaza
Meta closed the Instagram account of Palestinian journalist martyr Anas al-Sharif, blocking his journalistic archive documenting the Israeli aggression on Gaza. Those managing the account expressed sadness, calling on human rights organizations to contact Meta to restore it.
American company Meta closed the Instagram account of Palestinian journalist martyr Anas al-Sharif, which contained an archive of photos and videos documenting his field work and coverage of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. Those managing the account, in a statement issued on Friday, expressed their sadness over the closure, affirming that the account constituted a documentary record of his journalistic work, especially his coverage of events in the northern Strip. The statement explained that the account closure led to the blocking of visual materials documenting aspects of the aggression on Gaza, calling on human rights organizations and relevant authorities to contact Meta's management to help restore it and preserve the archive from loss. The account managers called on anyone with channels of communication with the company to help convey their demands. The statement did not clarify the reasons for the account closure, nor did it include an official response from Meta. Al-Sharif was among the prominent journalists who reported on developments of the aggression and siege from northern Gaza, and was martyred in August 2025 after being targeted by the Israeli occupation army. The closure raises concerns about the loss of visual journalistic materials, amid Palestinian complaints about restrictions on digital content related to the aggression.