My Bluesky Account Suspended for Supporting Palestinian Armed Resistance

Today, I received the email below from the “Bluesky Moderation Team” informing me that it had suspended my account for a “serious violation” of its terms.  It’s shocking that this platform, originally intended as an alternative to Twitter allowing full discussion and debate of major issues, has responded in such an arbitrary and tone-deaf fashion.

As we all know, pro-Palestine discourse is widely censored and punished both online and on the streets.  Apparently, Bluesky has caught the fever as well.  This suspension is but one example. Important to me, but not on the scale of the lawsuits, expulsions, and firings imposed on other activists.

Of course, this is nothing compared to the suffering of the Palestinian people. But it’s important we remain vigilant and protect our rights, all of them, everywhere.

The suspension message is quoted below:

Hi, We’ve reviewed a Post on your account @richards1052.bsky.social and found it violates Bluesky’s Community Guidelines on Respectful Discourse. We create a safe space for discussion by prohibiting threats and content meant to scare or intimidate people.

For example:

• Do not threaten others with death, serious harm, or express that others should be hurt or killed.
• Do not promote, glorify, or incite violence against individuals or groups.
• Do not share graphic violent content designed to shock, disturb, or intimidate others.

The following Post was removed:

Of course 95% of All shuls R Zionist. Except a few Hasidic sects. When a shul or rabbi denounces Israel’s genocide & fascist govt unequivocally, then we can talk. If U R a Zionist U support Zionism. Zionism perpetrates genocide. Armed resistance against Zionism & defense of PaIestine is legit

Your post was classified as a Serious Violation, adding 4 strikes to your account. You now have 4 total strikes.

Because you reached 4 strikes, your account has been suspended for 3 days. You will be able to access your account again on 29th Sep, 2026.

If you believe this action was taken in error, you can appeal within 14 days by emailing moderation@blueskyweb.xyz. Please include context about why you believe this decision was incorrect.

Bluesky Moderation Team

I am appealing the suspension. What’s with the “four strikes?”  “Serious violations” apparently get four strikes.  What does a Zionist get for supporting Palestinian genocide? For admiring Ben Gvir or Smotrich? For praising the IDF’s “work” in Gaza? No strikes, likely.

The “offending” phrase in my post says ” Armed resistance against Zionism & defense of Palestine is legit.” In fact, the UN General Assembly has repeatedly over 40 years declared that armed resistance against a foreign occupation is legitimate:

“Do Palestinians have a “right to resist” according to the United Nations?

Yes, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has explicitly affirmed the right of Palestinians to resist Israel’s military occupation, including through armed struggle. This right was affirmed in the context of the right to self-determination of all peoples under foreign and colonial rule:

UNGA Resolution 37/43 (1982)…reaffirmed the legitimacy of “the struggle of peoples for […] liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle.”[2]

Bluesky is penalizing me for supporting armed Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation and genocide, a right explicitly endorsed by the UN General Assembly. Should it too be banned from the platform?  You can see how absurd the distinction it’s attempting to make.

Palestinians are legitimately engaged in armed resistance against genocide. All nations are permitted to employ armed resistance to defend their homeland when invaded.

For example, the Nazis committed genocide during the Holocaust. May a Bluesky user not praise the armed resistance of Jewish partisans against them? Is support for Jewish resistance “glorifying or inciting violence?”  Taking up arms against genocide may not be spoken of on Bluesky? Or are only some genocides permitted and others forbidden?  I suspect that’s the case. Bluesky runs with its tail between its legs because of the Zionist thought police, who patrol social media platforms seeking out pro-Palestine anti-thought.

The rule prohibiting promoting, glorying or inciting violence would also prevent a user from supporting the right of Ukrainians to armed resistance against the Russian invaders. It would prohibit praising the Jewish partisans who rebelled against the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It would have prohibited affirming the right of the US to armed resistance against Japanese attackers after Pearl Harbor.

The world is filled with violence and nations/peoples attacked or occupied by foreign powers. Refusing to permit content which declares such armed resistance as legitimate, is divorcing Bluesky from reality and the world as we know it.

As most of you know, I am a journalist who has published widely on the Israel-Palestine conflict. I’ve been publishing such views in multiple social media platforms for over 20 years. I have a rightful, critical place in this discourse–on Bluesky and every other platform.

I am also a Jewish anti-Zionist. Zionists (one of whom I was responding to in my post) regularly report me for similar alleged infractions over many years. I urge Bluesky to take this into account and reverse its decision. I am engaged in legitimate speech. If Bluesky bans it, it is violating its own commitment to debate and commentary on the Gaza genocide; and free speech on the platform.