The Media Accountability Project  

Factual errors in recent article about Oct.7 attack by Hamas need to be corrected

"You report that 300 Israeli citizens were taken hostage. According to the Israeli army, “the number of captives is 240,” so writing “300” is not supported by any other available sources. Like my point above, not all of those who were taken captive by Hamas were Israeli civilians. The captives include Israeli soldiers, civilians, and foreigners. Please correct this factual error and clarify your language to avoid implying that all those taken captive were civilians."

March 28, 2024

To:

Karen McKinley, Journalist, Grand Forks Gazette

Dear Karen McKinley,

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to report a factual error in your recent article, “Peace conference in Grand Forks delves into Israel-Palestine war,” published on March 27 in Grand Forks Gazette.

You write that the “Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants at an outdoor music festival, which killed 1,600 Israeli citizens and 300 more taken hostage.” The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 1200 people were killed.[1] Social security data shows that of the total death toll, 695 of those killed were Israeli civilians. The others were security forces and foreigners. There are also reports of Israeli civilians being killed by friendly fire on Oct.7, including a house in Kibbutz Be’eri getting shelled by a tank, leaving 12 Israelis dead. This is also a critical component to consider when structuring sentences related to the events of Oct. 7.

You report that 300 Israeli citizens were taken hostage. According to the Israeli army, “the number of captives is 240,” so writing “300” is not supported by any other available sources. Like my point above, not all of those who were taken captive by Hamas were Israeli civilians. The captives include Israeli soldiers, civilians, and foreigners. Please correct this factual error and clarify your language to avoid implying that all those taken captive were civilians.

Thank you for editing these factual errors.

Sincerely,

Rose Mardikian,

Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

The Media Accountability Project is an initiative of:
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), 580 Sainte-Croix, Suite 060, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 3X5
©2007-2023 CJPME

CJPME acknowledges that our offices, located in Montreal, are on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk), whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.  CJPME recognizes the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka as the customary keepers and defenders of the St. Laurence River Watershed and its tributaries. We honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.  Further, CJPME respects and affirms the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land. CJPME has and will continue to honour the commitments to self-determination and sovereignty we have made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.  CJPME also acknowledges the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believes that its work should contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together.

Created with NationBuilder