Story Summary:
- Turkey blocked access to Instagram following the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
- Turkish communications official criticised Instagram for blocking condolence posts.
- Statements from Turkey, Hamas, and Israel provided context on the reactions to Haniyeh’s death.
Turkey blocked Instagram following the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, citing the platform’s censorship of condolence posts.
Instagram is blocked in Turkey: Here’s the likely reason
Turkey’s infotech regulator announced on Friday that access to Instagram has been blocked without providing a specific reason or duration for the ban.
According to reports, this decision came after Turkish communications official Fahrettin Altun criticised the social media platform for blocking posts expressing condolences over the death of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas official.
“This is censorship, pure and simple,” Altun, the communications director of the Turkish presidency, said on X (formerly known as Twitter), adding that Instagram had not cited any policy violations for its action.
Hamas confirmed Haniyeh’s death in Tehran, Iran, through separate statements by the Palestinian group and Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas and the will of our people and achieve fake goals,” said senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri.
“We confirm that this escalation will fail to achieve its objectives.”
Hamas emphasised that the organisation is more than just its leaders.
“Hamas is a concept and an institution and not persons. Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices, and we are confident of victory,” Zuhri added.
In contrast, Israeli officials welcomed the news of Haniyeh’s death. Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu stated, “This is the right way to clean the world of this filth. No more imaginary peace/surrender agreements. No more mercy.”
He further remarked:
“The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace. Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better.”