Nas Daily quits Instagram after backlash from pro-Palestinian protesters
The event, intended as a gathering for his fans, quickly turned contentious as demonstrators confronted him over his perceived support for Israel amid the ongoing mass-killing in Gaza.
SHAH ALAM - Israeli-Palestinian vlogger, Nuseir Yassin, widely known as Nas Daily, announced his departure from Instagram after a controversial meetup event on Oct 14, where he faced significant backlash from pro-Palestinian activists.
The event, intended as a gathering for his fans, quickly turned contentious as demonstrators confronted him over his perceived support for Israel amid the ongoing mass-killing in Gaza.
In a statement on his Instagram account, Nuseir clarified his decision to leave the platform, stating that he wanted to keep Instagram free of political content.
“Nas Daily is moving! I want to keep instagram free of politics as much as possible. So everything political is moving to x platform under name ‘Nuseir Yassin’.
“Instagram, Facebook, YoutTube will be used mainly for inspiring content,” read the post on Tuesday.
The meetup, held in Tokyo, aimed to connect Nuseir with his audience and share insights from his travels and experiences.
Known for his engaging short videos, Nuseir has often been a polarising figure due to his stance on various issues, particularly regarding the genocide in Palestine.
Despite his Palestinian descent, Nuseir has identified himself as an ‘Israeli,’ which has drawn ire from many who feel he downplayed the complexities and suffering associated with the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
During the event, a group of pro-Palestinian activists, organised by Palestinians from Japan, protested against Nuseir, as shown in a video shared on X.
In the footage, activists accused Nuseir of ‘whitewashing’ Israel's military actions and labelled him a ‘tool of Israel’s propaganda machine.’ Protesters held signs with slogans like ‘We don’t need influencers who are complicit in genocide’ and ‘Jews for a free Palestine.’
Eyewitnesses described a tense atmosphere as the protesters voiced their dissent.
Some attendees who initially supported Nuseirbegan to express discontent after hearing the activists' messages.
“I came here for the event, but after listening to you and listening to him right now, I’m not on his side,” one attendee said in the video.
The situation escalated into verbal confrontations and physical altercations between Nuseir's supporters and the demonstrators.
In response, Nuseir engaged with the protesters, stating that he agreed with their call for a Free Palestine but emphasised that he wanted it free from Hamas and terrorism.
After the event, Nuseir took to social media, expressing excitement about encountering protesters and phrasing it as a pivotal moment in his career.
Following the tumultuous event, Nuseir decided to leave Instagram, amid growing criticism over how he was portrayed during the confrontation.
His comments and demeanour during the protest drew widespread criticism online, with many accusing him of lacking empathy for the suffering in Gaza.
Critics pointed out that laughing while discussing serious issues was inappropriate given the context.
Gaza has experienced relentless airstrikes and ground attacks, turning one of the world's most densely populated areas into a battlefield, since October 7 last year.
The toll on the civilian population has been catastrophic.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 16,765 children.
Thousands more were injured, missing, or trapped under rubble, and the death toll continues to rise.
The Israeli death toll, though significantly lower, stood at 1,139, with at least 8,730 injured, primarily military personnel, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
