Media outlets should always question unsubstantiated Israeli claims

"I am raising this because it is the responsibility of the media to approach such claims with skepticism and independently verify allegations made by Israel, particularly when they are not substantiated by credible evidence. In fact, these claims are often contradicted by statements from Hamas and, as noted by the OHCHR, could not be verified by an independent third party."


December 23, 2024

To:

Nancy Waugh, Managing Editor, CBC News

Brodie Fenlon, News Editor in Chief, CBC News

Jack Nagler, Ombudsman, CBC News

To the CBC News team, 

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express my thanks to CBC News for publishing the balanced Reuters article titled “Houses, camp in Gaza City hit by deadly Israeli airstrikes as ceasefire talks continue” on December 19, 2024.

As the CBC knows, the Israeli Offensive Forces (IOF) have a vested interest in shaping the narrative of their military operationsThe IOF regularly claims that civilian areas are targeted in the occupied Gaza Strip because Hamas allegedly hides weapons there or uses civilians as human shield—a claim consistently denied by the resistance.

During Israel's assault on Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023, the IOF released more than 27 statements accusing the hospital of being used by Hamas to use civilians as human shields. However, these accusations were unsupported by credible evidence, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was unable to independently verify them.

This is reflected in their November 8th report[1], which I have referenced below and provided a screenshot:

I am raising this because it is the responsibility of the media to approach such claims with skepticism and independently verify allegations made by Israel, particularly when they are not substantiated by credible evidence. In fact, these claims are often contradicted by statements from Hamas and, as noted by the OHCHR, could not be verified by an independent third party.

That said, I am pleased that CBC published this Reuters article, which accurately states that Hamas denies Israel’s accusation that it exploits civilian infrastructure and uses Palestinians as human shields.

Please continue to approach Israeli claims with skepticism and consider referencing reports such as the OHCHR, which states that it was unable to independently verify Israel’s unfounded accusations against Hamas.

Israeli authorities have a well-documented history [2]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.

Thank you again for your commitment to balanced and responsible reporting.

Warmest regards,

Lynn Naji

Junior Analyst, CJPME (www.cjpme.org)

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East / Canadiens pour la Justice et la Paix au Moyen-Orient

580 Saint-Croix, Suite 060, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 3X5 

438-380-5410

 

[1] United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “Gaza Update Report,” November 8, 2024, accessed December 18, 2024, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/opt/20241106-Gaza-Update-Report-OPT.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email.

[2] Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), "Fact Sheet: Israel's History of Spreading Disinformation," October 17, 2023, accessed December 18, 2024, https://imeu.org/article/fact-sheet-israels-history-of-spreading-disinformation.