"Your reporter Ms. Yourex-West describes Gaza as “flattened” and homes as “in ruins” but never says "who" caused this destruction. The result of this nightmare is Israel’s relentless bombardment and siege. This exclusion is irresponsible and goes against journalistic standards. Imagine reporting on Hiroshima’s destruction without mentioning that the United States dropped the atomic bomb—that’s exactly what’s happening here. This segment effectively whitewashes Israel’s deliberate destruction of Gaza."
February 6, 2025
Dear Global News Calgary newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express my concern regarding Global News’ recent broadcast titled “Palestinian Canadians vow to return to Gaza after Trump's takeover remarks.”
This segment portrays Gaza’s devastation as if it happened in a vacuum, completely ignoring Israel’s role in the destruction and mass killing of civilians. For 15 months, Israel has waged a brutal military siege on Gaza that human rights groups have recognized as genocide. Yet your report makes zero mention of this essential context.
Your reporter Ms. Yourex-West describes Gaza as “flattened” and homes as “in ruins” but never says "who" caused this destruction. The result of this nightmare is Israel’s relentless bombardment and siege. This exclusion is irresponsible and goes against journalistic standards. Imagine reporting on Hiroshima’s destruction without mentioning that the United States dropped the atomic bomb—that’s exactly what’s happening here. This segment effectively whitewashes Israel’s deliberate destruction of Gaza.
In case you haven’t been reading the news, over 70 per cent of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed. Nearly 2 million Palestinians are displaced. Israel has bombed hospitals, schools, and UN shelters—all protected under international law. More than 62,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered, the majority of them civilians—women and children. Yet, your broadcast fails to mention any of this.
Palestinian Canadians are vowing to return not out of nostalgia, but because Israel is systematically erasing their people—first through genocide, and now through overt plans of ethnic cleansing. Your segment erases this reality.
Global News’ failure to identify Israel as the perpetrator of Gaza’s destruction misleads the public and violates the principles of accurate and fair reporting.
Let’s stick to the facts. Gaza was destroyed because of Israel’s deliberate military campaign, its ongoing occupation, and its blockade that has left millions of Palestinians displaced - many still searching the rubble, caught between hope and grief, unsure if their loved ones are truly lost or dead.
Global News must take corrective action by ensuring future reporting provides the necessary context and does not whitewash Israeli responsibility for Gaza’s destruction. At minimum, a follow-up segment should be produced that acknowledges who flattened Gaza and why.
I will be monitoring your reporting of the situation of Gaza closely. Failure to properly qualify the actors in this ongoing story will leave me no choice but to file a formal complaint to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
Thank you for your time,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East