Youssef did not provide further details on his decision Amid initial silence, Youssef"s fans accused X of censoring him over pro-Gaza posts LONDON: Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef quit the social platform X on Monday night, citing concerns for the safety of his loved ones. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the satirist, known for his vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel, refuted fans’ speculations that X removed his account over pro-Gaza posts. He wrote: “No, my X account wasn’t taken down by X, and I don’t wish to falsely victimize myself using this. “When safety issues concerning my loved ones are alleviated, I might consider coming back. I wish to deal with this away from media.” He also confirmed that he will continue to share his thoughts and news on the social platforms TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. “I am not sure if or when my Twitter (X) account will be back,” he said in another Instagram post. “I am here on Instagram and Facebook.” He said that “any other account posting as me on Twitter (X) is fake,” and that he does not wish to “make any media statements or interviews” about this matter for the time being. As of the time this report was published, Youssef had not provided further details on what specifically prompted his decision to quit the platform. The initial lack of explanation prompted Youssef’s fans to accuse X of censoring him for his outspoken pro-Palestine views. They shared a screenshot of the commentator’s final post on X, which slammed the weaponization of antisemitism and included a poll asking followers if they feared being labeled “antisemitic” by “Zionists.” Shortly after the post, Youssef’s X account, which had more than 11 million followers, vanished. Users assumed the account was removed as part of X’s perceived pro-Israel bias. They called on owner Elon Musk to uphold free speech. Youssef attracted attention for defending Palestinian rights, particularly after his interview with Piers Morgan in November, when he described Israeli politics as being “in a relationship with a narcissistic psychopath.”