"Why does CBC repeat Israeli propaganda in the subheading when the article exposes it as baseless? Journalistic accuracy depends on clearly differentiating between assertions and facts. If an assertion has not been independently verified, journalistic integrity demands it be reported as the spokesperson’s opinion or perspective, rather than as an established fact. Given that the article directly debunks this claim, the subheading should unequivocally reflect this skepticism."
December 17, 2024
To:
Mouhamad Rachini, Journalist, CBC News
Nancy Waugh, Managing Editor, CBC News
Brodie Fenlon, News Editor in Chief, CBC News
Jack Nagler, Ombudsman, CBC News
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express concern about a subtle double standard in the article, "Israeli strike on UN school in Gaza kills at least 20, survivors say," published by CBC News on December 16, 2024.
First, the subheading—“Israeli military said it targeted sites used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants over the weekend”—uncritically parrots the Israeli military's claim, despite the article itself meaningfully challenging it. The survivors’ testimonies, including one from Khaldiya Tafesh, who lost family in the attack, make it clear that the claim is unsubstantiated. She describes how they “were just sitting in our homes, innocent people in their space,” when they “saw the bomb landing in the middle of the room” and that “there wasn’t anyone wanted or anything.”
Why does CBC repeat Israeli propaganda in the subheading when the article exposes it as baseless? Journalistic accuracy depends on clearly differentiating between assertions and facts. If an assertion has not been independently verified, journalistic integrity demands it be reported as the spokesperson’s opinion or perspective, rather than as an established fact. Given that the article directly debunks this claim, the subheading should unequivocally reflect this skepticism.
In the name of adhering to the journalistic principle of fairness and accuracy, I urge CBC to revise the subheading to reflect the skepticism about the Israeli claim raised in the article. Not to change much, just to add “without evidence.” It should read: “Israeli military said it targeted sites used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants over the weekend, without evidence.”
Second, I want to sincerely thank CBC for their fair coverage of the Palestinian death toll resulting from Israel’s more than one year of genocide in occupied Gaza.
CBC News is setting a good precedent for other media outlets by accurately stating that:
1. “The real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are still buried under rubble or in areas medics can't access.”
- This is very important. Recent estimates by The Lancet Medical Journal suggest that the true number of deaths in occupied Gaza, including indirect fatalities, could be four times higher than the current count due to those who have perished under rubble, from burns, or due to Israel’s deliberate dismantling of Gaza’s infrastructure.
2. “The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children.”
- I appreciate that CBC accurately indicates that more than half of the civilian casualties are women and children. UNOCHA confirms that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians killed by Israel’s genocidal campaign in occupied Gaza are women, children, and the elderly. Even more so, Israeli military claims about Palestinian fighters killed in Gaza demonstrate that the majority of Palestinians killed are civilians.
3. “Furthermore, UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and even the United States have used the Health Ministry's numbers in the past.” I commend CBC for effectively debunking the claim that the Gaza Health Ministry’s numbers are unreliable.
- Reports of the Palestinian death toll in Canadian media are typically accompanied by a reference to the fact that the Gaza Health Ministry is “Hamas-run,” with the implicit argument being that, since the Ministry of Health in Gaza (the only body with the ability to verify numbers, as Israel has kept out international groups and journalists) functions under a government administered by Hamas, it could be exaggerating numbers.
- Just to illustrate, National Post published an article on December 15th claiming that Hamas is inflating the numbers reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.[1] This baseless claim has become the assumed norm in the media, despite the fact that the Health Ministry's numbers have historically been considered reliable by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and Human Rights Watch.
In conclusion, I thank CBC for their fair coverage of the Palestinian death toll and encourage them to raise skepticism around Israeli claims instead of parroting them. Israeli authorities have a well-documented history of using deceit, falsehoods, and disinformation to conceal their war crimes and crimes against humanity— and media outlets have a duty to avoid amplifying this propaganda.