"Beyond the obfuscation of the Palestinian death toll, this description undermines the scale of Palestinian suffering in Gaza. Israel’s military assault and siege on Gaza has killed, but it has also wounded, starved, and displaced most Palestinians in the strip. Death, albeit salient, is only one component of Israel’s menacing military campaign in Gaza."
March 22, 2024
To:
David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief, Globe and Mail
Angela Pacienza, Executive Editor, Globe and Mail
Sandra E. Martin, Standards Editor, Globe and Mail
Melissa Stasiuk, Head of Newsroom Development, Globe and Mail
Christine Brousseau, Assistant Managing Editor, News, Globe and Mail
Dear Globe and Mail Team,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding The Globe and Mail’s description on the landing page titled “Israel-Hamas War.”
The description reads:
On Oct. 7 a surprise attack by militant group Hamas left around 1,200 Israelis dead, and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands.
For those killed in Israel, The Globe and Mail recites the precise death toll. For Palestinians killed in Gaza, however, The Globe and Mail uses the word “thousands.” To write that 1,200 Israelis were killed, but that Israel’s subsequent campaign “has killed thousands” is blatantly disrespectful when over 31,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel. This represents a double standard.
Beyond the obfuscation of the Palestinian death toll, this description undermines the scale of Palestinian suffering in Gaza. Israel’s military assault and siege on Gaza has killed, but it has also wounded, starved, and displaced most Palestinians in the strip. Death, albeit salient, is only one component of Israel’s menacing military campaign in Gaza. To give readers a fair and balanced glimpse into what Globe and Mail calls the “Israel-Hamas War,” the destruction of infrastructure and the scale of starvation, disease, and displacement should be included in the description.
I hope The Globe and Mail team will make these edits promptly.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East