Award-winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda announced on Wednesday that TikTok permanently deleted her account, which previously hosted 1.4 million followers, according to reports from Al Jazeera.
Owda, a contributor to Al Jazeera’s AJ+, stated in a video distributed via Instagram and X that she had anticipated content restrictions but not a complete, permanent removal of the platform she cultivated over four years.
Sources indicated that checking the platform across various geographies, including Australia, showed an account matching her username remained visible, though it was inaccessible in the Middle East region.
Owda cited recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously expressed hope for the successful United States acquisition of TikTok due to its perceived strategic importance in digital conflict.
Netanyahu reportedly described the social media battlefield as critical during a September meeting with pro-Israel influencers, emphasizing TikTok as a consequential asset for influence operations.
This development coincides with TikTok finalizing a deal to establish a separate US entity controlled by American investment firms, some reportedly connected to former President Donald Trump’s associates.
Furthermore, Owda referenced remarks from Adam Presser, the incoming CEO of TikTok’s US arm, who previously designated the use of the term “Zionist” as a proxy for hate speech requiring moderation.
This incident occurs amid broader concerns over media access in the region, as Israel’s Supreme Court postponed a ruling allowing independent foreign journalists to report from Gaza outside of military oversight, following the recent deaths of several Palestinian media workers.
