Bisan Owda Regains TikTok Account After International Outcry; Many Videos Restricted

Award-winning Gaza-based journalist Bisan Owda says she has regained access to her TikTok account a day after reporting it had been removed from the platform. Owda credited international media attention and pressure from non-governmental organisations for the reinstatement, though she says many of her videos are now restricted from recommendation and her profile is harder to find.

Al Jazeera reported that Owda’s account, which has 1.4 million followers, was visible on the platform but had no new uploads since September 2025. TikTok reportedly informed her that many of her videos are "ineligible for recommendation," and visitors now must type her full username to locate the account.

Account Review And Platform Response

A TikTok spokesperson told The New Arab that Owda’s account had been "temporarily restricted" in September amid concerns about a potential impersonation risk. After further review, the company said the account was reinstated and is now operating normally. Al Jazeera also contacted TikTok, but a company spokesperson declined to comment on specific accounts.

Owda’s Reporting And Recognition

Owda became widely known for posting daily video diaries from Gaza during the war, often opening them with, "It’s Bisan from Gaza — and I’m still alive." A contributor to Al Jazeera’s AJ+, her reporting has earned major journalism awards including Emmy, Peabody and Edward R. Murrow honors.

Context And Broader Concerns

Owda flagged the account removal while also citing comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who has faced accusations related to conduct in Gaza — about the potential consequences of a TikTok sale. The incident comes amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Gaza despite a reported ceasefire, and last week three Palestinian journalists were killed in the territory.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 207 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with the organisation saying the "vast majority" were killed by Israeli forces.

The account issue also coincided with Israel’s top court postponing a decision on whether foreign journalists should be allowed to report in Gaza independently of the Israeli military. Separately, TikTok announced a deal to create a separate U.S. version of the platform controlled by investment firms, including several with ties to U.S. companies and some linked to political figures.

Owda’s reinstatement follows public outcry and media scrutiny; however, the changes to discoverability and recommendation status have raised fresh questions about content moderation, visibility for frontline journalists, and platform accountability.