"While I appreciate the humanizing aspects of the article, I felt like the broader context of what is happening in Gaza was lacking from your article. This is unfortunate as it would have given a more complete and accurate picture of why the Zaqouts were forcibly displaced and are asking to move to Canada."
February 13, 2024
To:
Naomi Barghiel, Digital Broadcast Journalist, Global News
Sonia Verma, Editor-in-Chief, Global News
Dear Ms. Barghiel, and Ms. Verma,
I'm writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to thank you for the article: “Couple expecting baby in Rafah plea to Canada for help as Israel plans next move,” published on February 11, 2024, on Global News.
This article humanized Palestinians and their trials and tribulations by giving voice and space to Gazan couple, Lama and Nedal Zaqout, describing their dire reality in Gaza amidst their forced displacement to Rafah.
While I appreciate the humanizing aspects of the article, I felt like the broader context of what is happening in Gaza was lacking from your article. This is unfortunate as it would have given a more complete and accurate picture of why the Zaqouts were forcibly displaced and are asking to move to Canada.
A lot of information could have been provided to describe the situation in Gaza, even if just briefly. Here are just a few that would be relevant to your article to draw a more complete picture of the unfathomable situation in Gaza.
- Gaza has been under Israeli blockade for 16 years and is currently enduring its fourth month of Israeli military assault by land, sea, and air. At least 28,340Palestinians have been killed and 67,984 injured since October 7.
- None of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are fully functional anymore so much so that one month after the start of Israel’s military assault, doctors in Gaza were forced to perform C-sections without anesthesia.
- Last month, the ICJ concluded that the case for Israeli genocide in Gaza was indeed “plausible.” Given this, the Court ordered Israel 1) to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip, 2) to prevent and punish incitement to genocide by Israeli leaders, and 3) to ensure that humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza.
I, therefore, ask you to add more context about the situation in Gaza to strengthen your article.
I hope Global News will make this small change and continue reporting and covering Palestine and Palestinians in a humanizing way.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East