"The use of the word 'operation' to describe Israel’s military siege on Al-Shifa hospital is particularly problematic. Please precede the word 'operation' with 'military,” or opt for the most specific description: 'military siege'."
April 9, 2024
To:
Arturo Chang, Journalist, CBC News Manitoba
Melanie Verhaeghe, Managing Editor, CBC News Manitoba
Dear Arturo Chang
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to offer a couple of recommendations for a recent article titled “6 months after Oct.7, young Winnipeggers reflect on how their lives have been changed by the war in Gaza,” published on April 7 in CBC News Manitoba.
Near the end of your article, you write the following:
On April 1, Israeli troops left Al-Shifa hospital after a two-week operation which the country said was meant to target Hamas militants. The biggest hospital in Gaza – one of a few health-care facilities that were partially operational in the Strip – was left in Ruins.
The use of the word “operation” to describe Israel’s military siege on Al-Shifa hospital is particularly problematic. According to the International Press Institute’s A Reporter’s Glossary of Loaded Language in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, using words like “operation” or “action” to describe a military operation “diminishes [the event’s] confrontational or violent nature.”[1] Please precede the word “operation” with “military,” or opt for the most specific description: “military siege.”
Like my point above, the second sentence of your article reads, “…Israel launched its invasion of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.” The word “invasion” should be preceded by “military.”
Near the end of the article, you write a short paragraph that contextualizes Israel’s assault on Gaza:
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Close to 76,000 have been injured.
This critical information should be included at the beginning of the article, alongside the context you’ve provided readers regarding Oct. 7.
Thank you for covering this story and for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] International Press Institute, “A Reporter’s Glossary of Loaded Language in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” pp. 9.