"Yes, Hezbollah retaliates, but let’s not pretend Israel is the sole victim or that the state’s actions are somehow justified or remotely proportionate. Israel’s advanced military unleashes large-scale destruction on Lebanon while also violating international law without care. Hezbollah’s capabilities, while destructive, pale in comparison."
September 26, 2024
To:
Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post
Ryan Tumilty, Journalist, National Post
Dear Mr. Roberts and Mr. Tumilty,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concerns about your recent article in the National Post titled “Two Canadians killed in Lebanon, as MPs call for government to push for end to Israel-Hezbollah conflict,” covering the ongoing attacks by Israel on Lebanon, particularly regarding recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that led to the deaths of two Canadian citizens. The article lacks critical context and contributes to a one-sided narrative that shields Israel for what many human rights groups are describing as war crimes.
Firstly, while your reporting acknowledges the deaths of two Canadians in Lebanon, it fails to mention that Israeli airstrikes are the cause of their deaths. Kamal Tabaja, the son of the two Canadians, confirmed his parents were killed in the Nabatieh district by Israeli airstrikes. This was further confirmed by Melanie Joly in a tweet. This needs to be made clear in your reporting in order to be fair and accurate.
In addition, your article doesn’t address the asymmetrical nature of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The National Post conveniently seems to forget that since October 2023, over 10,000 cross-border attacks have occurred between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel responsible for the overwhelming majority of them, according to the Al-Jazeera.
It’s true that Israelis in the north have been displaced, but so too have the Lebanese in the south. Israel’s relentless airstrikes have led to the mass displacement of Lebanese civilians with nearly 100,000 people forced from their homes. The recent airstrike that killed over 500 people in Lebanon included50 children and 94 women. These numbers need to be included. Actions that Human Rights Watch argues could amount to war crimes.
Israel has also used white phosphorus in its attacks in densely populated towns which is restricted under international humanitarian law. White phosphorus is prohibited in civilian areas because of its indiscriminate nature. In southern Lebanon, Israel’s phosphorus bombs sparked over 134 forest fires and injured more than 100 people.
Yes, Hezbollah retaliates, but let’s not pretend Israel is the sole victim or that the state’s actions are somehow justified or remotely proportionate. Israel’s advanced military unleashes large-scale destruction on Lebanon while also violating international law without care. Hezbollah’s capabilities, while destructive, pale in comparison.
Israel has caused immeasurable suffering to all of Lebanon, not just Hezbollah militants, yet the National Post sees fit to ignore this fact.
The absence of this context reinforces a narrative that solely focuses on Hezbollah’s actions while overlooking the long-standing history of Israeli military aggression in Lebanon.
To offer your readers a fuller understanding of the escalations between the two parties, I urge the National Post to provide information that shows the trends of the scale of attacks by both Israel and Hezbollah. This would allow your audience to better assess the disproportionality and the damage inflicted by both sides.
I urge you to consider these points and to revise your reporting accordingly.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East