Twitch prohibits the use of the word 'Zionist' in order to 'attack' or 'demean', but allows you to use it when referring to the political movement.

Twitch's hateful conduct policy now prohibits the use of "Zionist" as a term to denigrate or attack individuals or groups.

Twitch wrote: "As part our Hateful Conduct Policy, we prohibit the usage of terms that, while not harmful or abusive on their own, can be used to slur others or denigrate them in certain contexts." "In line that approach, starting today using the term Zionist'' to attack or denigrate another individual or group on the basis their background or religion belief is against our rules."

Even if used critically, using the term in a political context (Zionism is a modern movement that advocates an explicitly Jewish Israeli State) will not be against the rules. Twitch community guidelines specify that, for example, calling someone a “Zionist [animal]” is prohibited but saying “Zionist settlers continue to encroach on Palestinian borders” is allowed.

Twitch wrote: "Our goal is not to stifle discussion about or criticism of a particular institution or ideology but to prevent coded hatred directed at individuals or groups of people."

This change was also credited to the Anti-Defamation League which, in October, forced Twitch to ban several Arab streamers over a TwitchCon panel that had been held a month earlier.

The ADL posted on X that they were "glad Twitch acted upon our recommendation" to make the change. "However policy is only as good as its enforcement. We will be vigilant and appropriately sceptical about Twitch’s enforcement of this policy."

The ADL's position on this issue is that "antisemites are antisemitic." The organization says that it "believes strongly that you cannot separate civil rights from the struggle for the Jewish people to self-determination within their ancestral homeland."

Twitch will be troubled by the issue of enforcement. It will have to separate valid criticism from personal attacks, and convince both sides that its decision is correct.