"The Lancet is a reputable medical journal that sets incredibly high standards for publishing. It has been cited by the Montreal Gazette twice in the past year, which speaks to the outlet’s perception of this medical journal as credible, reliable, and reportable. To refer to the findings as “controversial” seems out of place and inappropriate. Please remove the word “controversial” from your article. Further, your description of The Lancet’s findings is largely incomplete."
July 16, 2024
To:
Marilena Lucci, Editor-in-Chief, Montreal Gazette
Jason Magder, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Katelyn Thomas, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Rene Bruemmer, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Harry North, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Andy Riga, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Dear journalists and editors at Montreal Gazette,
I’d like to express a minor concern regarding one of your recent articles titled “Movement ‘Will not end with the encampments,’ pro-Palestinian protester says,” published on July 10.
Near the end of the article, you write the following:
The subsequent Israeli military action has led to the deaths of some 38,000 people, most of them civilians, and many of them women and children, according to the Gazan health authority. Three academics wrote a controversial letter that was published last week in the British medical journal the Lancet that if one were to factor in disease and other considerations, indirect deaths in the war would be several times higher than official Palestinian estimates.
The Lancet is a reputable medical journal that sets incredibly high standards for publishing. It has been cited by the Montreal Gazette twice in the past year, which speaks to the outlet’s perception of this medical journal as credible, reliable, and reportable. To refer to the findings as “controversial” seems out of place and inappropriate. Please remove the word “controversial” from your article. Further, your description of The Lancet’s findings is largely incomplete. One part of the journal article, in particular, reads as follows:
In recent conflicts, such indirect deaths range from three to 15 times the number of direct deaths. Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.
At minimum, the estimated death toll should be included in your description of their findings. Perhaps you could also link to the journal article to give readers the option to learn more about the harrowing extent of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East