The Media Accountability Project  

Article undermines that women in Gaza are being targetted, not “caught in a crossfire”

I, therefore, urge you to revise the statement to emphasize that these women are being "killed" in Gaza or use a term that better captures the intentional and horrifying nature of the violence, rather than insinuating it as accidental.

March 4, 2024

To:

Vanessa Balintec, Reporter, CBC News

Nancy Waugh, Senior Manager, CBC News

Dear Vanessa Balintec,

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to request a minor correction in the article: “Hundreds take to downtown Toronto to celebrate International Women's Day” published on March 02 in CBC News.

I must start by thanking you for addressing the plight of women in Gaza in your article about the march in Toronto to celebrate International Women’s Day.

I would, however, like to bring your attention to a specific issue. You write: “In this year's parade, women caught in the crossfire of conflict were top of mind for many.”

The language used downplays the severity of the situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza and diminishes Israel's accountability. These women are not merely "caught in the crossfire,” for there are constant reports about the targeted killing of civilians by the IDF. Not to mention, Israel has fostered particularly deadly conditions for women, as the healthcare system in Gaza has been destroyed by Israel, and women have been forced to give birth to their infants without anesthesia, food supply, or medicine. It's crucial to use language that accurately reflects the grim reality of the situation, acknowledging that these women are being deliberately targeted, not just accidentally caught in an “ambiguous crossfire.” Furthermore, your phrase implies that there is some kind of power symmetry between Hamas and Israel, which is also misleading. With over 30,534 Palestinians killed by Israel, and 1,139 people killed in Israel by Hamas, there is a clear, dominant aggressor.

I, therefore, urge you to revise the statement to emphasize that these women are being "killed" in Gaza or use a term that better captures the intentional and horrifying nature of the violence, rather than insinuating it as accidental.

I hope CBC News will swiftly make this adjustment and continue to report on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Matta,

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