Wikipedia Founder Blocks Editing on Controversial Article
Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, has taken action to prevent edits on a page titled “Gaza Genocide”. He described the article as a “particularly egregious” breach of neutrality.
In a statement on the discussion page for the article, Wales pointed out that Wikipedia voices have claimed that Israel is committing genocide, a statement that is heavily contested.
It’s unusual for Wikipedia editors to be locked out of editing. However, Wales, now serving as chairman emeritus of the Wikimedia Foundation, argued that claims of genocide should be sourced from external references rather than being stated as facts.
While he didn’t deny the possibility of genocide, he emphasized that it isn’t Wikipedia’s role to make such judgments.
Citing Wikipedia’s policies on neutrality and attribution, Wales highlighted the importance of maintaining an unbiased approach.
He reminded everyone that “this policy is non-negotiable, and its underlying principles cannot be replaced by any other policy, guideline, or editorial agreement.”
As of Monday morning, the content on the Gaza Genocide page stated: “The Gaza Genocide is the continued, deliberate, and systematic destruction of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip by Israel during the Gaza War.”
The definition included acts like mass killings, starvation, and causing serious harm. Other mentioned actions were blockades, attacking civilian infrastructure, and displacing people.
Visitors to the page could still read the content even with the editing block in place. A warning appeared with a lock icon stating, “This article is currently prohibited from editing until November 4, 2025, or until the editorial dispute is resolved.” A disclaimer noted that “we do not endorse the current version.”
Wales faced criticism from Wikipedia editors who accused the platform of yielding to pressure from pro-Israel groups. He claimed that he honestly addressed concerns about the article during prominent media interviews and stated that it does not meet the site’s standards.
It was unclear which interviews he was referencing. Wales suggested that editors adopt a neutral framing, beginning with “Multiple governments, NGOs, and corporations have described or denied labeling Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.”
Some editors expressed their discontent with Wales’ involvement. One editor pointed out that his actions disrespected the efforts of dedicated contributors to the article.
Others felt Wales’ intervention was an “astonishing overreach” that bypassed established procedures. Another editor accused him of having a conflict of interest due to his connections with Israel.
Reports indicate that Wales has visited Israel multiple times and received the Dan David Award from Tel Aviv University in 2015.
One Wikipedia editor remarked on the conflict of interest, asking, “Isn’t it problematic that you are a strong supporter of the organization being accused?”
Israel initiated military operations against Hamas in Gaza after a terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli fatalities. Many academics and human rights organizations have claimed that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with casualties reportedly in the tens of thousands, although Israeli officials dispute these allegations.
The newspaper has reached out to Wales, the Wikimedia Foundation, the Israeli government, and the Palestinian Authority for comments.
