One-sided article fails to specify the number of Palestinians killed by Israel

"This is worse than a half-truth: without reference to the larger number of Palestinians killed by Israel, a number that rises quickly by the day, it could be read as approval of Israeli crimes against humanity that as you read this are escalating before the eyes of the world."


October 13, 2023

To:

Angus Scott, Editor in Chief, The Niagara Falls Review

Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Toronto Star

Dear Angus Scott and Tonda MacCharles,

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, cjpme.org) to implore correction of a glaring omission in your October 13 article, “Israel-Hamas war: Canadians trapped in Gaza may be able to leave Saturday, Ottawa says.


If, as by 2023 ought to be firmly established, Arab (and yes, even Palestinian) life is life as much as Jewish life is life, then your writing simply must reflect this. 

During this week, more Palestinians have been killed by Israelis than Israelis have been killed by Palestinians. The mid-day numbers of Palestinians killed today stood at more than 1,800, as reported by local authorities and the international press.

Meanwhile, you write:

More than 1,300 Israelis died, and the U.S. has said 27 American citizens, and people from more than 30 countries were victims of the attack.

This is worse than a half-truth: without reference to the larger number of Palestinians killed by Israel, a number that rises quickly by the day, it could be read as approval of Israeli crimes against humanity that as you read this are escalating before the eyes of the world.

We demand you correct your report, as professionalism and humanity require. Please add to the quoted sentence above:

In the days that have followed, Israel has in turn killed more than 1,800 Palestinians, while openly restricting the access of 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza to food and water in what international legal observers decry as collective punishment.

Feel free to reach me at 438-380-5410 should you wish to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,

Dan Freeman-Maloy

PhD, University of Exeter

Director of Strategic Operations

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East/

Canadiens pour la Justice et la Paix au Moyen-Orient