Instagram axes Pallywood actor and influencer ‘Mr. FAFO’ 

In a decisive move, Meta has permanently deleted the Instagram accounts of Saleh Al Jafarawi, a Gaza-based influencer known as “Mr. FAFO,” for violating its Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy. With 5.5 million followers, Al Jafarawi was a prominent voice in Palestinian social media circles, often accused of spreading Hamas propaganda and glorifying violence—most notably the October 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The shutdown, confirmed this week, targets both his primary account (@salehaljafarawi) and backups, stripping Hamas of one of its most visible online amplifiers. Meta’s policy bans content that promotes terrorism or dangerous groups, a threshold Al Jafarawi crossed with posts praising Hamas’s attacks and celebrating its leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 assault.

From Music to “Martyrdom”

Before the war, Al Jafarawi, 25, was a small-time musician and vlogger, posting songs on YouTube and glimpses of Gaza life. The conflict transformed his platform. By late 2023, he was a fixture in what critics call “Pallywood”—a term for alleged Palestinian propaganda—appearing in roles as varied as a grieving father, a war correspondent, a surgeon, a radiology technician, and even a “corpse” in staged scenes. One video showed him reveling as Hamas rockets launched, only to later post tearful pleas during Israeli counterstrikes, earning the sardonic nickname “Mr. FAFO” (short for “F*** Around and Find Out”) from detractors.

His chameleon-like presence fueled skepticism. In February 2024, he claimed shrapnel from an IDF missile injured his hand, yet days later played table tennis with no visible impairment. By January 2025, he boasted of lounging on a couch tied to Sinwar’s supposed “martyrdom,” despite earlier listings as a casualty on OurGaza, a Hamas-affiliated site, with no death date specified. Claims of his demise—six times since 2023—proved false each time he resurfaced.

A Propaganda Powerhouse

Al Jafarawi’s reach was undeniable. His 5.5 million followers dwarfed many regional influencers, amplifying narratives of Palestinian victimhood alongside Hamas’s militancy. Videos from Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, a known Hamas stronghold, cast him as both victim and hero, though inconsistencies—like rapid “recoveries” and multiple professions—drew accusations of fabrication. Pro-Israel voices, from X users to blogs like Israellycool, branded him a crisis actor, a charge his supporters in Arabic-speaking circles dismissed as defamation of a war-torn voice.

Meta’s ban aligns with a broader crackdown on terror-linked content. The company’s policy, updated post-October 7, targets accounts that glorify violence or back designated groups like Hamas, which the U.S. and EU list as a terrorist organization. Al Jafarawi’s overt praise for the October 7 attack—where 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 taken hostage—and his ties to Hamas rhetoric made him a prime candidate for removal.

Impact and Reaction

The deletion is a blow to Hamas’s digital strategy, which relies on influencers to shape global perceptions. Al Jafarawi’s loss stings doubly after his follower count ballooned during the war, rivaling mainstream outlets for reach. On X, reactions split predictably: pro-Israel accounts hailed Meta’s move—“Mr. FAFO finally found out,” one quipped—while some Palestinian supporters decried it as censorship, pointing to a new account (@saleh_jaf97) already gaining traction.

For the Jewish Diaspora and Israel, the shutdown resonates amid rising antisemitism and disinformation online. “This isn’t about silencing Gaza,” said an AZM spokesperson off-record, “but about accountability for glorifying terror.” Yet questions linger: will new accounts simply replace him, and how effectively can Meta police a war where truth is a battlefield?

Jewish Breaking News contributed to this article.