"Your assertion that Gaza’s health ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians is misleading and half true. The UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reports casualties in Gaza with distinctions among military-age men, children, women, and the elderly. Women, children, and the elderly are indisputably civilians, and these groups constitute the majority of the deaths in Gaza."
August 30, 2024
To:
Sheena Goodyear, Journalist, CBC News
Nancy Waugh, Managing Editor, CBC News
Dear Ms. Goodyear and Ms. Waugh,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concerns about the article titled: “With polio in Gaza, a new challenge emerges: How to vaccinate 640,000 children in a war zone? " published on August 28, 2024.
First, I want to thank you for including the critical context that the International Court of Justice is investigating whether Israel’s military actions in Gaza constitute genocide. This context is essential, as it underscores that the highest court recognizes Israel’s egregious violations of international law. Too often, Canadian media disproportionately blame Hamas for the events of October 7th, while failing to recognize Israel's ongoing responsibility as the occupying power in Gaza and West Bank. Under international law, Palestine has the right to resist Israel’s brutal occupation. So thank you, again, for including this legal perspective—it is essential for a balanced and informed reporting.
If I may add one recommendation: You state: “The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other militants stormed Israel, killing around 1,200 people, and taking more than 200 people hostage, according to Israeli figures. An Israeli offensive launched in response has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians.”
Your assertion that Gaza’s health ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians is misleading and half true. The UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reports casualties in Gaza with distinctions among military-age men, children, women, and the elderly. Women, children, and the elderly are indisputably civilians, and these groups constitute the majority of the deaths in Gaza.
On August 1, 2024, UNOCHA reported the following death toll: 12,927 men, 10,627 children, 5,956 women, and 2,770 elderly. This means that women, children, and the elderly (civilians) constitute 60 percent of the identified death toll. Furthermore, over 10,000 Palestinian victims remain unidentified due to the collapse of the healthcare system and other restrictions.
To ensure accuracy, I urge you to update your article to clarify that Gaza’s health ministry does categorize civilian deaths, even if it does not specifically distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Sincerely,
Lynn Naji
Junior Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East