"The accusation of alleged Hamas members in UNRWA has been proven baseless months ago. According to UNRWA themselves, they have not received any specific allegations regarding systemic diversion of aid in Gaza by Hamas or other armed groups. Should it be revealed to be the case, UNRWA has stated it would strongly condemn any diversion of humanitarian supplies. UNRWA's distribution of aid is implemented through a robust system of oversight and checks, ensuring the safety and appropriate use of the aid."
To the CityNews 95.7 Halifax newsroom,
I am writing to you on behalf of CJPME to express my concern with your morning news segment on UNRWA halting aid into the Gaza strip. I am specifically talking about the pak that aired around 8:49 a.m. on December 3rd, 2024. I take issue with your one-sided framing of UNRWA’s decision which omits the fact they directly blame Israel for the situation.
In their official statement, they state that the responsibility of protection of aid workers and supplies is with the State of Israel as the occupying power in the Gaza strip.
While I appreciate that you include a quote from UNRWA’s head of philanthropy, you immediately followed it up with a quote from the Israeli military without raising any skepticism on their assertions. “The Israeli military accused UNRWA of having allowed Hamas to infiltrate its ranks, and it also said the UN agency coordinated less than 10% of the aid entering Gaza last month.” For one, the accusation of alleged Hamas members in UNRWA has been proven baseless months ago. According to UNRWA themselves, they have not received any specific allegations regarding systemic diversion of aid in Gaza by Hamas or other armed groups. Should it be revealed to be the case, UNRWA has stated it would strongly condemn any diversion of humanitarian supplies. UNRWA's distribution of aid is implemented through a robust system of oversight and checks, ensuring the safety and appropriate use of the aid.
This baseless attack ignores and is a gross misrepresentation of the agency and a clear example of anti-Palestinian racism. By echoing these unfounded accusations, your broadcast aligns with the defamatory rhetoric used to undermine humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Please correct this inaccurate claim on-air.
Lastly, I take issue with your rehashed Israeli claim that the “UN agency coordinated less than 10% of the aid entering Gaza last month,” expressed by the broadcast journalist on air. You do not actually mention that Israel is the party placing the restrictions on the supplies maing it impossible for UNRWA to supply the strip in the first place. That is essential context. Your direct omission of this angle hides Israel’s role as an occupying power with a legal responsibility for ensuring the safe delivery of aid. You also overlook the reality that Israel is responsible also for creating the crisis in Gaza.
Palestinians are facing emergency levels of starvation. The situation in Gaza is regularly analyzed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), and their latest reporting shows that all of Gaza is facing “emergency” level starvation and all of Gaza is at “risk of famine.”
I demand that CityNews 95.7 Halifax make a correction on-air regarding this segment and include essential context about the blockade, the disproportionate role of Israel in Gaza’s suffering.
Failure to address these concerns may prompt a formal complaint to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
I trust that you will act to uphold the integrity of your reporting.
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)