Mass WhatsApp Account Blocks Hit Israeli Users Amid Suspected System Glitch

On July 26, numerous WhatsApp users in Israel discovered their accounts had been unexpectedly blocked without any apparent violation of the platform's rules. Users like Daniel and media professional Eyal Tiran reported being abruptly logged out and receiving messages that their accounts were blocked, despite not engaging in any suspicious activity. Daniel described the disruption as distressing, noting that WhatsApp is essential for her work and that she was suddenly disconnected from both WhatsApp Web and her phone app. After contacting support, she was advised to wait 24 hours, but she encountered delays and difficulties receiving verification codes, taking two hours to regain access.

Eyal Tiran experienced a permanent ban shortly after submitting an appeal, with no option for further appeal, prompting him to contact Meta Israel representatives for resolution. A Facebook group managed by account recovery expert Ofer Revach saw nearly 300 new members reporting similar issues on the same day, with an estimated 10-15% of affected users successfully restoring their accounts after appeals. However, about 60% face repeated cycles of blocking and reinstatement, while others receive permanent bans that require legal intervention through Meta's US legal department.

Revach suspects a serious bug or malfunction in WhatsApp's AI moderation system is behind the surge in account blocks. He advises users who regain access to exercise caution by avoiding sending messages to unknown contacts, refraining from adding people to groups without consent, disabling automatic media downloads, and not using automation tools or WhatsApp Web to prevent further blocks. He also warns against paying third parties promising quick unblocking, as permanent bans are automatically lifted after 60 days, allowing users to re-register their numbers.

Meta has been contacted for comment, but no official response has been provided yet. This wave of account blocks has caused significant disruption for Israeli users relying on WhatsApp for daily communication and work.