"To be frank with you, Mr. Blaff, this article isn’t journalism. It’s a hit piece against an NGO doing vital work within a conflict zone. Simply put, you are a mouthpiece for Israeli propaganda that dehumanizes Palestinians and pressures NGOs from distancing themselves from supporting Palestinians in Gaza."
July 15, 2024
To:
Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post
Ari David Blaff, “Journalist,” National Post
Dear Mr. Roberts and Mr. Blaff,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express my concern regarding your article titled "Israel slams MSF for Gaza ‘propaganda’ over Israel-Gaza conflict," published on July 15, 2024, by the National Post. This article is a glaring example of anti-Palestinian racism, as defined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, and fails to provide a fair and balanced perspective on the issue.
The article uncritically parrots the Israeli government's accusations against Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), labeling their reports from Gaza as "propaganda." This baseless attack on an international medical humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives is utterly irresponsible. Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. If MSF is making statements critical of Israel, perhaps it’s because the state is collectively punishing all Palestinians, whether combatants or civilians.
Additionally, your article baselessly accuses MSF of being institutionally biased against Israel while ignoring their commitment to impartial humanitarian aid. The article mentions an MSF op-ed on the “near impossible task of getting lifesaving supplies into Gaza,” criticizing it for referencing Israel nearly a dozen times without mentioning Hamas. This criticism is unwarranted as it ignores the reality of the blockade and systematic assaults on Gaza's infrastructure by Israel, which are the primary obstacles to delivering aid.
Moreover, the article also unfairly targets the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), accusing Hamas of “pilfering supplies” from UNRWA rather than addressing the basic needs of refugees. This baseless attack ignores the fact that UNRWA spends the vast majority of its budget on education and healthcare. This is a gross misrepresentation and a clear example of anti-Palestinian racism.
The article minimizes the suffering of Palestinians by referring to their casualties and hardships in a dismissive manner. For example, the piece states, “Israel accused MSF of spreading anti-Israel propaganda,” without acknowledging the documented humanitarian crisis and medical emergencies faced by Palestinians in Gaza. By not recognizing the severe and disproportionate impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians, the article dehumanizes them, reducing their suffering to political rhetoric for this “news article.”
The article heavily features the pro-Israel perspectives while completely neglecting voices from the Palestinian community or third parties such as independent human rights organizations. This one-sided reporting creates an imbalanced narrative that excludes the lived experiences and perspectives of Palestinians. For instance, there is no mention of testimonies from Palestinian doctors, patients, or civilians who are directly affected by the conflict who could paint a more accurate picture of the situation on the ground in Gaza.
To be frank with you, Mr. Blaff, this article isn’t journalism. It’s a hit piece against an NGO doing vital work within a conflict zone. Simply put, you are a mouthpiece for Israeli propaganda that dehumanizes Palestinians and pressures NGOs from distancing themselves from supporting Palestinians in Gaza.
I urge the National Post to reconsider the publication of such a biased and unbalanced article.
I await your response,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East the Middle East