By misrepresenting the case brought forward by South Africa, as well as the ICJ’s initial ruling, the credibility of claims that Israel is plausibly committing genocide is undermined, further upholding the status quo of Palestine’s oppression.
February 15, 2024
To:
Star Editorial Board, Toronto Star
Anne Marie Owens, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star
To Toronto Star’s Star Editorial Board,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding the article “Finding a path to peace in Gaza,” published on February 14 by the Toronto Star.
The opinion piece very much downplays and misrepresents the conclusions and provisional measures issued by the ICJ by omitting critical context.
As announced on January 26, the court considers that “there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused” and that to “protect the rights claimed by South Africa,” the court will issue provisional measures to be followed by the state of Israel.[1] In short, the ICJ found that Israel’s actions in Gaza could plausibly fall with the Genocide Convention and ordered Israel to comply with provisional measures that would restrain its genocidal actions before the court issues its final decision, likely years from now.
Even if the piece was an editorial, it is journalistically irresponsible to omit ICJ’s conclusion that Israel’s actions could plausibly amount to genocide. Further, you state that the “ruling stopped short of demanding that Israel halt its offensive.” Ultimately, the court did, to some extent, acquiesce to South Africa’s request when it ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
By misrepresenting the case brought forward by South Africa, as well as the ICJ’s initial ruling, the credibility of claims that Israel is plausibly committing genocide is undermined, further upholding the status quo of Palestine’s oppression.
To uphold your responsibilities of journalistic integrity, please make these edits promptly.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] ICJ’s Order (South Africa v. Israel), p. 22