"The Houthis are targeting Israeli-related ships or the ones that are heading to Israel to show support for Palestine and for Israel to stop its bombardment campaign on Gaza."
To:
Eric Atkins, Transportation Reporter, Globe and Mail
David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief, Globe and Mail
Dear Eric Atkins and David Walmsley,
I am writing to express my concern about the article: “Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea cause arrival delays at Canadian ports,” published on January 21 in Globe and Mail.
I have one primary concern with your article, which I am asking for a correction.
You write: “The Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea in November, purportedly to demonstrate their support for Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.”
This sentence doesn't fairly and accurately depict the Houthis’ intention to attack ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis are targeting Israeli-related ships or the ones that are heading to Israel to show support for Palestine and for Israel to stop its bombardment campaign on Gaza.
This can be verified and corroborated in Yahya Sare’e’s, the Houthis spokesman, twitter.
On October 31, 2023, after their 3rd attack, Yahya Sare’e published a statement that explained their intentions. The 3rd point of this statement explains their intention well. Their attacks are: “in support of [their] oppressed brothers in #Palestine, and that the armed forces will continue to carry out more qualitative missile and drone attacks until #Israel ceases its aggression.”
I, therefore, ask to remove the word purportedly and to add that their attacks are a way to force Israel to cease its aggression.
You can add a statement from Yahya Sare’e, the Houthis spokesman, to be more accurate and balanced.
I hope Globe and Mail will make these changes and report on Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea in an accurate and balanced manner.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East