"Is it appropriate to introduce a blockade of humanitarian aid as a ‘gathering’? Why does the anchor make sure to distinguish it from a hike, a picnic, or even a party? Are viewers really wondering if a group of Israeli citizens and settlers blockading aid from entering Gaza are part of a hike, a picnic, or a party?"
March 14, 2024
To:
Margaret Evans, CBC News Senior International Correspondent, 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 and The National Team,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to request that a recent news segment titled “Israeli protestors target Gaza aid deliveries,” (formerly titled "Israeli civilians protest Gaza aid deliveries"), posted on March 13 on CBC News be removed from your platforms or, at minimum, be heavily edited.
In a slow, friendly tone, Margaret Evans begins her segment with the following:
A gathering in southern Israel. Not a hike, or a picnic, or a party, but a protest against humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, even though aid agencies say “only a trickle is getting in.”
Is it appropriate to introduce a blockade of humanitarian aid as a ‘gathering’? Why does the anchor make sure to distinguish it from a hike, a picnic, or even a party? Are viewers really wondering if a group of Israeli citizens and settlers blockading aid from entering Gaza are part of a hike, a picnic, or a party? This gentile, almost positive introduction works to present these blockaders as harmless and benevolent, which is entirely inappropriate considering the nature of their act: blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. One blockader– or as the segment labels him, “protestor” – says that concern for Palestinians is “exaggerated” and, later, declares that “in war…civilians die.” Preceding this vitriol with a warm, pleasant introduction is highly inappropriate, especially considering the stern tone that is often employed to cover news related to Hamas and Palestinians more broadly in CBC reporting.
As stated before, the individuals blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza are consistently referred to as “protestors” in the segment. These individuals are not in Tel Aviv, holding signs and chanting that humanitarian aid should be blocked from entering Gaza. They are, instead, at the Egypt-Israel border, physically attempting to block aid from entering. This makes them blockaders, not protestors. Please clarify the language in the title of the news segment. I also urge the CBC News Team to precede “aid” with “humanitarian” in the segment's title. The aid is flour. The aid is medicine. The aid is water. They are protesting this humanitarian aid that is meant to help Palestinians in Gaza stay alive, and that should be made abundantly clear to CBC’s viewers.
One critical component missing from this segment is any skepticism related to Israel’s statements about their behaviour. The segment states that five people were killed when an Israeli strike killed one of the last UN aid depots, an attack which “Israel says killed a Hamas commander.” And yet, Hamas’ statements are not mentioned in the segment, leaving viewers with no opposing perspective. Rather than conveying the scale of famine in Gaza and the risk Israel’s blockade poses on Gaza’s population, Margaret Evans simply states that Israel denies claims that it has “restricted aid into Gaza” and the “military will now work to open routes.” Then the segment ends, and viewers are left with the impression that Israel will do just that when their track record, conveniently excluded from the segment, shows otherwise.
Since Oct. 7, over 31,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, dozens have died from starvation, the entire population has been displaced, and all Palestinians in Gaza are hungry. To exclude this context in a news segment covering the seemingly casual and peaceful blockade of aid from entering Gaza is one-sided, unfair, and poor journalism.
This segment is highly offensive. From the biased framing to the misleading language, it is a clear case of poor journalism. Given the slim chance that it could be re-edited to meet acceptable standards, I urge you to remove it from all CBC News platforms.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East