In an unprecedented move, leading Chinese tech giants, including Baidu and Alibaba, have quietly erased Israel from their online maps, leaving global onlookers astir as Tel Aviv's activities in Ga.za continue to raise concerns over 'war crimes.'
Reports emerging from the Wall Street Journal on Monday unveiled that the namesake of Israel was no longer present on digital maps maintained by these prominent Chinese companies.
While the borders distinguishing Israel and the Palestinian territories are still visible, the actual name of the nation has been conspicuously omitted.
This glaring omission has ignited a firestorm of debate across the digital realm, with observers questioning China's motivations behind such a decision.
The report elucidates that even minuscule countries like Luxembourg find their place on Alibaba's maps, leaving experts to ponder the deliberate absence of Israel.
Israel's ongoing involvement in the Gaza Strip has generated significant international concern, prompting widespread calls for ceasefires and diplomacy.
The conspicuous removal of Israel from these online maps may further deepen discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising questions about how global powers perceive the situation.
While China has not officially commented on this alteration, the move to remove Israel from their online maps signifies a noteworthy departure from the norm in the realm of digital cartography.