"This segment failed to cover the plethora of reasons for which Palestinians are dying from starvation: Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians retrieving aid and its unilateral control of most of the air, land, and sea routes to Gaza. More than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah, not “hundreds of thousands.” Lastly, a “break in the fighting” implies a power symmetry between the two parties involved. Further, it obfuscates Israel’s highly disproportionate share of the killing since Oct. 7. The host could have, instead, said that Palestinians sheltering in Rafah can only wait for a 'ceasefire' or 'an end to Israel’s military campaign'."
March 12, 2024
To:
Tania Kohut, Supervisor, National Online Breaking News, Global News
Elton Hobson, National Managing Editor, Online Video, Global News
John Jadden, Online Video Producer, Global News
Brent Rose, Online Video Producer, Global News
Dear Global News Video Team,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding a recent segment titled “Gaza crisis: No ceasefire as Ramadan begins with fears of famine,” posted on March 11 Global News.
This segment consistently uses language that obfuscates Israel’s responsibility for the devastation in Gaza. Here is a list of examples:
- “The situation in Gaza is only growing more desperate;”
- “Even as the pace of airdrops increases…25 people have died of starvation;”
- “Netanyahu vows to press ahead with a military invasion of Rafah, where hundreds and thousands are still sheltering;”
- “Back in the camp, they can only wait for a break in the fighting.”
When reporting on Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians, it is paramount to be precise. What is the “situation” in Gaza? Why have 25 people died of starvation, even when the pace of airdropping has increased, as you declare in the segment? Israel’s brutal military campaign on Gaza and Palestinians has destroyed the strip’s essential infrastructure, and their ongoing blockade of aid from entering has left all Gazans facing food insecurity. This segment failed to cover the plethora of reasons for which Palestinians are dying from starvation: Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians retrieving aid and its unilateral control of most of the air, land, and sea routes to Gaza. More than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah, not “hundreds of thousands.” Lastly, a “break in the fighting” implies a power symmetry between the two parties involved. Further, it obfuscates Israel’s highly disproportionate share of the killing since Oct. 7. The host could have, instead, said that Palestinians sheltering in Rafah can only wait for a “ceasefire” or “an end to Israel’s military campaign.”
When reporting on violence against Palestinians in Gaza, please consider saying or writing “Palestinians” instead of the ambiguous “people.” For example, the segment should have stated that “25 Palestinians have died of starvation” and “more than [1.5] Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah.”
The word choices and phrases to which I’ve referred subtly undermine Palestinian suffering and favour Israeli narratives. Considering Global News expects its journalists, anchors, editors, and producers to produce fair, balanced, and complete content, the type of edits I’ve recommended are salient points. I highly recommend considering my recommendations in all future reporting on Israel’s military assault on Gaza and Palestinians more generally.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East