"Your language subtly undermines the scale of starvation and dehydration in the Strip. Earlier in the article, CBC outlines allegations that starvation of civilians is being used by Israel as a method of warfare. Yet, when CBC describes starvation in Gaza in its own terms, it settles for “catastrophic food insecurity.” The starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition preceding a famine do not fall under the scope of “food insecurity.” Palestinians in Gaza are not “food insecure.”"
June 7, 2024
Dear Paul Moore, Nancy Waugh, and Brodie Fenlon,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding a recent article titled that appears to have been originally published by The Associated Press on June 4: “U.S. lawmakers vote to sanction ICC after prosecutor seeks warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu.”
While some of the core components of AP’s original article remain, CBC appears to have nonetheless edited it heavily. Near the middle, the article reads as follows:
Israel’s subsequent bombardments and assault on Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in nearly eight months, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced at least 1.7 million of the 2.3 million people living in the territory– most of whom are facing catastrophic food insecurity.
Your language subtly undermines the scale of starvation and dehydration in the Strip. Earlier in the article, CBC outlines allegations that starvation of civilians is being used by Israel as a method of warfare. Yet, when CBC describes starvation in Gaza in its own terms, it settles for “catastrophic food insecurity.” The starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition preceding a famine do not fall under the scope of “food insecurity.” Palestinians in Gaza are not “food insecure.”
According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, it is possible and likely that all three IPC thresholds for Famine (food consumption, acute malnutrition, and mortality) were met or surpassed in northern Gaza in April. Southern Gaza will likely enter Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Catastrophe (IPC 5) between May and July. Regarding the major information and data gap because of inaccessibility to Gaza and the incessant bombing/ground campaign, the FEWS NET states that “in all recent cases of a current situation Famine (IPC Phase 5) classification (e.g., Pibor, South Sudan, 2020; Leer, South Sudan, 2017), the evidence on outcomes was similarly limited.” Instead of stating that most Palestinians in Gaza are “facing catastrophic food insecurity,” CBC should state that they are facing prolonged starvation and malnourishment.
Thank you for making these edits promptly.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East