Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales locks “Gaza genocide” article, condemning blatant anti-Israel bias and enforcing strict neutrality until 2025 review.
In a dramatic intervention that sent shockwaves through the world’s largest online encyclopedia, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales personally stepped in on Sunday to halt edits to the site’s “Gaza genocide” page, citing severe anti-Israel bias and violations of the platform’s core principle of neutrality, according to a New York Post report.
Wales condemned the article’s opening line, which declared Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” without attribution — a direct breach of Wikipedia’s “Neutral Point of View” (NPOV) policy. “This article fails to meet our high standards and needs immediate attention,” Wales wrote, stressing that editorial activism cannot override factual accuracy or fair representation.
He proposed a balanced rewording:
“Multiple governments, NGOs, and legal bodies have described or rejected the characterization of Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.”
Calling neutrality “non-negotiable,” Wales overrode community consensus and locked the page until November 4, 2025, or until a qualified editorial panel restores compliance. The lock notice clearly states that the restriction “is not an endorsement of the current version.”
The decision ignited fierce debate among Wikipedia editors — some praising Wales for defending truth and integrity, others accusing him of “yielding to Zionist influence.” Critics pointed to his close relationship with Israel, noting his ten documented visits and his receipt of the prestigious Dan David Prize from Tel Aviv University in 2015.
Supporters, however, applauded his courage. “For too long, digital spaces have been hijacked by anti-Israel narratives masquerading as ‘consensus,’” said one veteran editor. “Wales just reminded the world that facts are not subject to mob votes.”
The controversy underscores a wider cultural battle online, where Israel’s actions are often misrepresented through ideological filters. By freezing the page, Wales has reaffirmed that Wikipedia’s legitimacy depends on objective truth — not political agendas.
