"These words not only dehumanize Palestinians' deaths but obscure Israel’s noncompliance with its obligations as an occupying power, which is the reason behind these deaths: failure to discriminate between civilians and combatants and failure to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians."
March 4, 2024
To:
Arturo Chang, Reporter, CBC Manitoba
Nancy Waugh, Sr. Manager, CBC News
Dear Arturo Chang and Nancy Waugh,
I am writing to express concerns about the article “Winnipeggers rally in solidarity with Palestinians for 20th straight week, demanding ceasefire in Gaza,” published on March 2 on CBC News.
First, you use passive language in a paragraph of your article.
You write: “Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say more than 30,000 people have died and 70,000 have been wounded since the Israeli invasion began five months ago...”
Using the words “more than 30,000 people have died and 70,000 have been wounded” absolves Israel’s responsibility for the killing of Palestinians. These words not only dehumanize Palestinians' deaths but obscure Israel’s noncompliance with its obligations as an occupying power, which is the reason behind these deaths: failure to discriminate between civilians and combatants and failure to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians. There are recent reports that Israel may be deliberately starving Palestinians.
According to OCHA, as of March 4, 2024, at least 30 534 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, and 71,920 Palestinians were injured.
Please change the words: “More than 30,000 people have died and 70,000 have been wounded” to these words: “At least 30,534 Palestinians were killed, and 71,920 Palestinians injured.”
Second, you write: “About 130 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, with the rest of them dead, according to Israeli officials.”
There are several issues in this sentence:
- Since people whom Hamas has taken back to Gaza include Israeli civilians and Israeli soldiers, it would be more accurate to use the word “prisoners of war” when talking about Israeli soldiers and specify how many they are, if possible.
- By writing: “With the rest of them dead,” the sentence is unclear. Israel’s responsibility for their death is completely absolved, and it excludes the 112 Israeli hostages that have been freed in part of the prisoner exchange deal in mid-February
- It is unclear whether the words “rest of them,” meaning the 123 hostages (253 hostages taken on October 7 minus the 130 hostages still believed in Gaza), refer to the hostages that have been released or not or if you’re only mentioning that 11 have died. It is unclear and inaccurate since, because of its bombardment campaign, Israel killed more than 70 hostages. It is still unsure if this number includes the 31 hostages who have been confirmed dead in early February.
Please specify how many hostages are prisoners of war, the exact number that have died, and how they have been killed to not absolve Israel’s responsibility.
I hope CBC will make these changes and consider these suggestions when reporting on the situation in Gaza.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East