"While some of these claims remain contentious allegations, I want to point out the fact that your article is misleading insofar as it makes it sound like the victims of October 7 were only civilians. On October 7, Hamas targeted Israeli military infrastructure and killed numerous Israeli security forces."
To:
John Longhurst, Faith Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press
Paul Samyn, Editor, Winnipeg Free Press
Dear John Longhurst and Paul Samyn,
I am writing to express my concern about the article: “CMHR event to focus on Hamas sexual violence against women in terror attacks,” published on January 22 in Winnipeg Free Press.
I would like to bring your attention to two main issues that you failed to mention.
First, you write: “The assaults continued for hours in several Israeli kibbutz communities, where civilians – including children and the elderly – were executed at gunpoint, burned alive, raped and taken hostage.”
While some of these claims remain contentious allegations, I want to point out the fact that your article is misleading insofar as it makes it sound like the victims of October 7 were only civilians. On October 7, Hamas targeted Israeli military infrastructure and killed numerous Israeli security forces.
To make your article more accurate, I therefore suggest adding that Israeli security forces were killed.
Second, you write: “In total, 1,200 Israelis were killed and another 250 were taken hostage and transported to Gaza.”
However, you don’t mention the Palestinian casualties since October 7.
I, therefore, ask you to add the most updated number of Palestinian casualties to make your article more fair and balanced.
I hope Winnipeg Free Press will make these changes and report on Palestine-Israel in an accurate and balanced manner.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East