"Your article and headline should clarify that the stabbing attempt is, at this point in time, only an allegation made by the Israeli military, who claim without evidence that the Canadian tourist 'threatened the soldiers of the Netiv Ha’Asara’s standby squad with a knife.' However, this is mere hearsay as there has not been a formal investigation into the incident."
July 24, 2024
To:
Mark Mackinnon, Senior International Correspondent, Globe and Mail
Sandra Martin, Standards Editor, Globe and Mail
Dear Mr. Mackinnon, Ms. Martin,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express my concern regarding your article titled “Canadian killed by Israeli soldiers after attempted stabbing attack,” published on July 22, 2024, by the Globe and Mail. I take issue with the manner in which you report on the altercation between the Israeli military and the Canadian tourist who was protesting against Israel’s actions in Gaza and was subsequently killed by Israeli forces in the Netiv HaAsara settlement on the Gaza border.
To begin, your article and headline should clarify that the stabbing attempt is, at this point in time, only an allegation made by the Israeli military, who claim without evidence that the Canadian tourist “threatened the soldiers of the Netiv Ha’Asara’s standby squad with a knife.” However, this is mere hearsay as there has not been a formal investigation into the incident.
According to an article by Quds News Network, which links to security footage of the attack, while it seems likely that it was an attempted stabbing, the footage provided by the Israeli military is not entirely clear. Currently, a knife cannot be definitively seen in the video. Therefore, it is crucial to state that the claims by the Israeli military remain allegations, as much context is currently missing from the incident, and a knife attack cannot be fully proven. Please correct your article by making it explicitly clear that any mention of a stabbing attempt is an allegation, using terms such as “allegedly” or “reportedly.”
Furthermore, your article relies heavily on the narrative promoted by the Israeli military, which is not an impartial source and has a vested interest in framing the murdered Qawarshi Zakaria Adam as a “terrorist.” It is irresponsible for the Globe and Mail to report claims by the IDF without skepticism, especially in a sensitive story such as this one, where a Canadian citizen was killed by a military force. By not questioning Israel’s assertions, the article rationalizes the IDF's actions, downplaying Israel’s responsibility for targeting civilians, whether Canadian or Palestinian, and overlooking the broader and systematic nature of Israel’s operations in the region.
Please consider these points and make the necessary revisions to ensure a fair and balanced representation of this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East