The Media Accountability Project  

Thank you Orillia Matters for publishing Letter on Gaza

Mr. Chaudhuri's conscientious choice of precise language
and commitment to providing context to help readers understand the current situation in
Palestine. It is essential to recognize that Canadian media often frames Palestinian
retaliatory actions as terrorism without providing the underlying realities of Israel’s 75
brutal occupation of Palestine, Israel’s blockade of Gaza, and Israel’s illegal settlements in
the occupied West Bank.

May 23, 2024

To: Dave Dawson, Editor, Orillia Matters

Michael Friscolanti, Editor-In-Chief, Orillia Matters

 

I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to thank you for publishing M. Chaudhuri’s letter to the editor titled: “Seek truth about Gaza, be on the right side of history,” published on May 17, 2024, on Orillia Matters. 

Chaudhuri’s letter starts by saying that the Nakba has never truly ended, and I couldn’t agree more. Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine has persisted for 75 years, and is marked by Israel’s use of war tactics such as forced displacement, starvation, and the indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians. Since May 6, more than 800,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah alone which is reminiscent of the Nakba where 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced out of their homes.

I also appreciated that Mr. Chaudhuri condemned our Canadian government and academic institutions that are being complicit in Israel’s genocide in their silencing of anyone who dares to speak up for Palestine. Instead of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he rightly pointed out that our local MPPs disrespectfully chose to support Israeli flag raisings this week. 

Lastly, I want to take the moment to highlight his conscientious choice of precise language and commitment to providing context to help readers understand the current situation in Palestine. It is essential to recognize that Canadian media often frames Palestinian retaliatory actions as terrorism without providing the underlying realities of Israel’s 75 brutal occupation of Palestine, Israel’s blockade of Gaza, and Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Thank you for publishing a letter that accurately describes the situation in Palestine. Please continue to publish such critical pieces.

Sincerely,

Lynn Naji
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

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