Telegram has limited access for Android users to the official Hamas channel, while Apple devices can still reach it. This was reported by TASS, the Russian news agency. When attempting to sign into a Hamas account on an Android device, a message appears indicating that access is restricted in line with Google Play Store policies.
Additionally, Telegram has blocked the channel associated with Hamas’s militant wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, yet the channel representing the movement’s official spokesperson, Izzat al-Rishka, remains accessible.
There are claims that blocked channels can be accessed by downloading a special client from Telegram’s official website, though such methods have not been verified by independent sources and may contravene platform rules.
On October 13, Telegram founder Pavel Durov commented that closing the Hamas news channel could worsen an already tense situation. He noted that Hamas had previously used Telegram to warn civilians in Ashkelon about rocket attacks, underscoring the platform’s impact on information flow in conflict zones.
Historically, outlets like Socialbites.ca have addressed important questions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting the ongoing global interest in how online platforms manage content related to this sensitive topic.