"The segment fails to specify the other Palestinian casualties that died from the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. These casualties included dentist and al-Wafa Hospital chairman of directors Jamal Khaswan, his wife and child, as well as two other Palestinians, killed in a targeted vehicle attack in the Qarara town in Khan Yunis. The attack by Israel has wounded a total of 22 Palestinians, including three children and seven women."
May 10, 2023
To:
Paul Martin, News Director, CHCQ Cool 100.1 FM
Al Lewis, Host, CHCQ Cool 100.1 FM
Jenn McKay, Host, CHCQ Cool 100.1 FM
Dear Mr. Martin, Mr. Lewis, and Ms. McKay,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) regarding a news segment on the program Cool Mornings with Al Lewis & Jenn McKay, aired by CHCQ Cool 100.1 FM on May 9, 2023.
The segment reports on the Israeli military operation and air strikes that targeted the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of three commanders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), their wives, and children, and a dentist and his family. The segment uses inaccurate and misleading language when describing Palestinian casualties and the nature of Israel’s attack.
The transcript of the segment reads:
“Israel says it has killed 3 senior commanders of the militant Islamic jihad group and targeted airstrikes early this morning. Palestinian health officials say 13 people were killed at all including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby.”
The segment fails to specify the other Palestinian casualties that died from the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. These casualties included dentist and al-Wafa Hospital chairman of directors Jamal Khaswan, his wife and child, as well as two other Palestinians, killed in a targeted vehicle attack in the Qarara town in Khan Yunis. The attack by Israel has wounded a total of 22 Palestinians, including three children and seven women.
As such, I insist that you make an on-air correction to specify that 15 people were killed, including the commanders, their wives and children, a dentist, his wife and son and two others in a targeted air strike on a vehicle in the Qarara town in Khan Yunis.
In the news segment, you use the term “targeted killing” to describe Israel’s air strikes on Gaza. The International Press Institute (IPI) issued a document entitled “Use with Care: A Reporter’s Glossary of Loaded Language in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”[1] which highlights terms that may be offensive either to Israelis or Palestinians. Using the term “targeted killing” “gives the impression that an attack caused little or no damage to personal property and no injuries to civilians.”
As such, I insist that you refrain from using the term “targeted killing” in future news segments.
I look forward to seeing the changes promptly made and expect that such problematic language and inadequate context is not repeated in future segments.
Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Tayla Shair
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] “Use with Care: A Reporter’s Glossary of Loaded Language in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” International Press Institute, Oct. 23, 2013, p. 26, https://ipi.media/use-with-care-reporters-glossary-of-loaded-language-in-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/