TikTok has suspended the account of an ultranationalist and pro-settlement Israeli influencer for violating its rules on hate speech and bullying. The decision came after The Guardian flagged several videos in which he appeared to harass and threaten activists in the occupied West Bank.
According to the report, dozens of videos posted on TikTok and Instagram by various social media figures show harassment of Palestinians and attacks on Israeli and international activists. Such content has increased especially after the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, while violence in the West Bank has escalated.
TikTok confirmed that it has removed the account of far-right figure Roi Star for violating the platform's rules on hate speech and threats. The platform stressed that it does not allow individuals who promote violence or extremism.
In a video posted on social media, Star is seen entering a house used by left-wing activists in Ras Ein al-Auja in the Jordan Valley and using pepper spray on an activist who tried to stop him.
Human rights organizations warn that the spread of such videos on social media is being accompanied by the growing influence of the far-right in Israeli politics and the increase in violence on the ground in the West Bank.
