Poland calls on Google to remove Israeli ads denying Gaza famine
Poland has called on Google to remove Israeli ads on YouTube that deny the existence of famine in the Gaza Strip, broadcaster TVP World reported.
NASK, a Polish institution monitoring online disinformation, submitted a report to Google at the request of the Foreign Ministry calling for the removal of the Israeli-sponsored ads from YouTube, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.
"NASK experts pointed to manipulated or false content in Google ads and videos on YouTube channels, which—citing the platform's community guidelines—should result in the content being withdrawn," the watchdog said.
Since early August, Israel’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Warsaw have reportedly circulated content online, with eight videos on the embassy’s YouTube channel, dismissing the famine in Gaza.
The report submitted by NASK was, however, rejected by Google, which said the materials were consistent with its policies and values, TVP reported, citing the Foreign Ministry.
Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely closed all Gaza border crossings, pushing the territory’s 2.4 million population into famine.
Famine has been confirmed in northern Gaza, and is projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis in central and southern Gaza by the end of September, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Since IPC declared famine in Gaza, 144 people have starved to death, including 30 children, the ministry added.
The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 12,321 people and injured 52,569 others, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
