Instagram account of content creator and activist Shrishti Khanna, which reportedly had nearly 100,000 followers, was abruptly suspended, triggering criticism from activists and supporters who linked the move to her advocacy for Palestine and marginalised communities.
Khanna, known online through her handle “@shrishtii.khanna”, has been vocal on issues related to Gaza, minority rights in India and struggles of oppressed communities globally. Supporters alleged that the suspension came shortly after she published a blog post calling for action against an alleged foreign soldier accused of involvement in violence in Gaza, who was reportedly vacationing in Manali.
Supporters Allege Targeted Action Against Pro-Palestine Voices
Activists close to Khanna claimed the suspension was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of online censorship affecting those speaking on Palestine.
In a statement shared online, supporters said Khanna and fellow activist kafkasbluebug had consistently raised awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and criticised Israeli military actions.
my instagram account with nearly 1 lakh followers was suspended because i was making no bullshit political content. tell me, where are the spaces for dissent? if you protest, you get lathi charged and water canons are used. if you bring your work online, the spaces you build are…
— shrishti (@shristhikhanna) June 9, 2026
The statement said the pair had recently posted videos examining what they described as the “Hummus Trail”, alleging that former Israeli soldiers were travelling to India after military service. According to supporters, these posts attracted criticism and trolling from right-wing groups.
“They have been consistent, unwavering and principled voices for Palestine,” the statement said, adding that Khanna had become a target of coordinated online attacks due to her activism.
Questions Raised Over Meta’s Moderation Policies
The suspension has also renewed criticism of Meta and its moderation practices on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Supporters argued that the action reflected what they described as a wider suppression of Palestinian content online. They referred to reports and whistleblower claims alleging that Meta had complied with a significant number of content removal requests linked to the Israeli government after October 7, 2023.
“The suspension of activists is a clear example of how Meta handles Palestinian content and those who advocate for human rights in Gaza,” the statement claimed.
Critics also alleged that many pro-Palestinian posts had faced reduced visibility, content restrictions or removals through automated moderation systems.
However, Meta has not publicly commented on the reasons behind the suspension of Khanna’s account at the time of writing. Social media platforms often suspend accounts over alleged violations of community guidelines, though specific reasons are not always disclosed publicly.
Online Campaign Demands Restoration of Account
Following the suspension, supporters launched an online campaign demanding the immediate restoration of Khanna’s account. Activists tagged Instagram, Meta India and Instagram head Adam Mosseri on social media, urging the platform to reverse the decision.
“We are demanding that Instagram and Meta immediately restore @shrishtii.khanna account,” the statement read.
Supporters have also encouraged users to share posts and raise awareness online, saying efforts to silence one voice should be met with broader solidarity.
The incident has once again sparked debate over free speech, platform moderation and the treatment of political content related to Gaza on major social media platforms.
