UK Consulate in Jerusalem Loses X Account After Criticizing Israel

The British consulate in Jerusalem, which represents the UK government in the occupied Palestinian territories, had its account on the social media platform X suspended on Sunday. As of Monday, the account, @UKinJerusalem, remains inaccessible, displaying a message that it violated X’s rules. The exact reason for the suspension has not been disclosed. X has not responded to requests for comment. Hours before the suspension, the consulate posted a thread on X alongside other diplomatic missions, criticizing Israel’s use of administrative detention against Palestinians. The thread noted that over 9,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including thousands without charge or trial. It also expressed concern over the health of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyah, a Palestinian pediatrician detained by Israeli forces in December 2024 and held without charge. The consulate called on Israel to uphold its obligations under international law and grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to detention facilities. The consulate’s website states that it works on political, commercial, security, and economic interests between the UK and Palestine. It also provides consular assistance to British nationals in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.