"Such words downplay Israel’s responsibility for the situation it has inflicted on Gazans, which has been ruled as a plausible genocide by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These words also obfuscate the scale of Israel’s current military campaign in Gaza. Israel has killed civilians in Gaza with military tactics and equipment besides missiles and bombs. Palestinians in Gaza are being targeted and killed by airstrikes, gunshots, and tanks, as well as fatal conditions that have caused death from lack of medicine, starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition."
March 12,2024
To:
Margaret Evans, Foreign Correspondent, The National, CBC News
Adrienne Arsenault, Chief Correspondent, The National, CBC News
Ian Hanomansing, Chief Correspondent, The National, CBC News
Perlita Stroh, Producer, The National, CBC News
Chad Paulin, Executive Producer, The National, CBC News
Dear Margaret Evans, Adrienne Arsenault, Ian Hanomansing, Perlita Stroh, and Chad Paulin,
I am writing to express concern for The National news segment: “Airstrike near Rafah on 1st day of Ramadan,” published on March 12 on CBC News.
First, Foreign Correspondent, Margaret Evans, says: “there was no silencing of the guns.” These words are so demeaning as they undermine the situation and reality in Gaza, specifically Rafah, considering that no other background context is provided.
This figure of speech makes it seem like there are two symmetrical parties “fighting” by using arms, while this cannot be further from the truth.
Such words downplay Israel’s responsibility for the situation it has inflicted on Gazans, which has been ruled as a plausible genocide by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These words also obfuscate the scale of Israel’s current military campaign in Gaza. Israel has killed civilians in Gaza with military tactics and equipment besides missiles and bombs. Palestinians in Gaza are being targeted and killed by airstrikes, gunshots, and tanks, as well as fatal conditions that have caused death from lack of medicine, starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition. By using such words, you also absolve completely the reality of Gazans and the power imbalance.
You should have provided the number of Palestinians that have been killed since October 7 and mentioned how Israel has been blocking aid from getting into Gaza, although it is its responsibility as an occupying power to let aid in. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, even said Israel was using food and hunger as a weapon and that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians. More than 1,5 million Palestinians are now sheltering in Rafah because of Israel’s brutal military assault.
I, therefore, ask you that in future reporting, you mention background information on the situation in Gaza, specifically Rafah, to not absolve Israel’s responsibility.
Second, while the headline of the video is: “Airstrike near Rafah on 1st day of Ramadan,” it only consists of the first part of the news segment.
After 1 min 10, the news segment turns to how “the U.N. is not doing enough to pressure Hamas or to condemn the group’s use of sexual violence on October 7.” You show images of the Israeli hostages, the lobby delegation in New York Monday, Romi, one of the hostages, a rally in Tel Aviv, and give voice to Yarden Gonen, a sister of one the hostages.
While a lot can be said about how you failed to mention that they are allegations, the framing of the news segment is what struck me the most.
You bring up these unfounded allegations of sexual violence against Hamas to then say that the negotiations have been stalled.
Unfounded sexual violence allegations against Hamas did not need to be included in your news segment, and including these uncorroborated allegations before talking about the negotiations makes it seem like Hamas is the one who is making them stall for some twisted and wicked intentions.
Furthermore, journalism requires you to be balanced. Yet, you did not mention the UN's press release on how UN experts are appalled by reported human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls. Palestinian women have been subjected to sexual violence.
I, therefore, ask you to be balanced in future reporting on the situation in Palestine.
I hope The National will consider my suggestions when reporting on Palestine in the future.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East