#WestBankLive: Snapchat redeems itself after Tel Aviv blunder
Blog: Snapchat has responded to a social media pressure to highlight Palestinian daily life after putting the spotlight on Tel Aviv as the 2014 Gaza war anniversary loomed.
2 min read
13 Jul, 2015
The West Bank was chosen as the featured area of the day [Snapchat]
Photo-sharing app Snapchat messed up massively last week when it chose the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv, as its feature city of the day - on the eve of the first anniversary of the Israeli aggression against Gaza.
Snapchat's blunder led to a massive online backlash against the move, with social media users tweeting in protest and calling for Palestine to be highlighted in the app's "Live" feature, which documents life in selected cities though short video clips.
On Thursday, Snapchat took notice of the negative reactions - and calls for a boycott - and picked the West Bank to be the featured area of the day.
Palestinians posted videos of bustling street markets, scenic views of orchards, Ramallah locals singing and dancing and pictures of the separation barrier built by Israel, also known as the Apartheid Wall, which severely restricts the travel of Palestinians.
Palestinians marked the anniversary of the first day of the most recent Israeli war against Gaza on Wednesday by launching an online campaign to pay tribute to the thousands of civilians that lost their lives.
Some 2,251 Palestinians, including 551 children, were killed in the 50-day war in Gaza, leaving more than 10,000 people wounded and 100,000 homeless.
Snapchat, with about 30 million active users, has a large following the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf.
Saudi Twitter users, meanwhile, started a campaign to have Mecca featured as the city of the day on 13 July.
Fashion blogger Noha Nabil tweeted:
Snapchat's blunder led to a massive online backlash against the move, with social media users tweeting in protest and calling for Palestine to be highlighted in the app's "Live" feature, which documents life in selected cities though short video clips.
On Thursday, Snapchat took notice of the negative reactions - and calls for a boycott - and picked the West Bank to be the featured area of the day.
Palestinians posted videos of bustling street markets, scenic views of orchards, Ramallah locals singing and dancing and pictures of the separation barrier built by Israel, also known as the Apartheid Wall, which severely restricts the travel of Palestinians.
Palestinians marked the anniversary of the first day of the most recent Israeli war against Gaza on Wednesday by launching an online campaign to pay tribute to the thousands of civilians that lost their lives.
Some 2,251 Palestinians, including 551 children, were killed in the 50-day war in Gaza, leaving more than 10,000 people wounded and 100,000 homeless.
Snapchat, with about 30 million active users, has a large following the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf.
Saudi Twitter users, meanwhile, started a campaign to have Mecca featured as the city of the day on 13 July.
Fashion blogger Noha Nabil tweeted:
Twitter Post
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Translation: May God give you strength and make you victorious. Palestine is beautiful, despite the pain.
Blogger Heba al-Samt posted:
Twitter Post
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Filmmaker Saud al-Eidi tweeted:
Twitter Post
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Translation: The racist separation wall extends over 500km and divides Jerusalem the West Bank from Jerusalem, let the world know about it!
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