Telegram Restricts Access to Hamas-Operated Channels Amid Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict

Closure of Hamas channels on Telegram influences flow of information from besieged Gaza, with major channels linked to Hamas' military wing and propaganda now inaccessible on both iOS and Google Play Store apps.

• Telegram, the social media platform, has restricted access to channels operated by Hamas and its supporters amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, significantly impacting the flow of information from inside Gaza.
• Several major channels, some with hundreds of thousands of followers, disseminating content and propaganda from Hamas' military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, are now inaccessible on Telegram's iOS and Google Play Store apps.
• Despite these restrictions, some channels supporting Hamas appear to be unaffected, and the content from inaccessible channels is reportedly still accessible by some Android users.
• Telegram's enforcement measures may be influenced by policies of app store operators like Google, whose policies require app developers to moderate content that glorifies terrorism.
• Telegram's role as a platform for various groups, including extremist and far-right factions, have come under scrutiny in recent times, but the platform has allowed the Hamas channels to operate despite this.

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