"CJPME is acutely aware that your article may face attacks from groups such as Honest Reporting Canada which typically attack student media any time journalism students attempt to properly cover issues in regards to Palestine. I want to assure you that you have our steadfast support and to reach out to us in case you are attacked by Pro-Israel groups and are in need of support or guidance on how to deal with this unwanted attention."
To:
Aya Yafaoui, Opinion Editor, The Medium
Yasmine Benabderrahmane, Associate Opinion Editor, The Medium
Dear Ms. Yafaoui and Ms. Benabderrahmane,
I am writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your op-Ed “Polio In Gaza: Beyond Medical Threats” published on September 16, 2024 in the Medium. Your thoughtful analysis on the polio outbreak in Gaza is deeply valued and timely, particularly as the outbreak is gaining international attention in major media outlets.
I particularly want to commend your reflection on the historical context of vaccine mistrust by Indigenous groups who are skeptical of medical aid when it comes from their occupiers. Specifically, I commend your paragraph which draws parallels between how the genocide of First Nations in North America who were executed through “the biological warfare of smallpox and its supposed vaccine distribution” with the current situation in Gaza. This perspective is essential for understanding why Palestinians might view international health efforts with suspicion. Israel’s history of ongoing indiscriminate bombing, ethnic cleansing, violence, and blockade in Gaza restrict medical access, making the distribution of vaccines appear as part of a broader political agenda rather than a sincere humanitarian effort.
Lastly, CJPME is acutely aware that your article may face attacks from groups such as Honest Reporting Canada which typically attack student media any time journalism students attempt to properly cover issues in regards to Palestine. I want to assure you that you have our steadfast support and to reach out to us in case you are attacked by Pro-Israel groups and are in need of support or guidance on how to deal with this unwanted attention.
Once again, I want to thank The Medium for unveiling these realities in the face of inevitable backlash.
With heartfelt thanks,
Lynn Naji
Junior Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)