"Although Israel has not ratified the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) because Palestine acceded to the Rome Statute in 2015, making it a state party to the ICC. As a result, Israeli officials can still be prosecuted for war crimes under Article 8(2)(b)(i) of the Rome Statute, which prohibits intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking part in hostilities."
February 14, 2025
To:
Nancy Waugh, Managing Editor, CBC News
Brodie Fenlon, Editor-in-Chief, CBC News
Dear CBC editors,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to raise concerns regarding the published article titled: “This professor once taught at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. He returned to a campus in ruins.”
In your otherwise fair and balanced article, you state:
“At Al-Azhar University, the military said it found weapons, like rocket parts and explosives, as well as a tunnel leading to a nearby school, providing handout photos of what it claims was found on campus. It said this indicated Hamas had used the facility to attack Israeli troops.”
Repeating allegations made by the Israeli military without independent verification risks perpetuating unverified claims that have historically been used to justify the bombing of Palestinian civilian infrastructure. Given the Israeli military’s well-documented history of making false or misleading claims to moralize attacks on civilian areas, it is crucial that CBC applies greater scrutiny before reporting these statements as fact.
Israeli military allegations about Palestinian infrastructure being used for military purposes have repeatedly been debunked upon further investigation:
- May 2021 – Destruction of the Al-Jalaa Building: The Israeli military destroyed the Al-Jalaa building in Gaza, which housed international media outlets including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press. Israeli authorities claimed the building was used by Hamas military intelligence. However, the Associated Press stated that they had no indication of Hamas presence in the building, and no credible evidence was ever provided to substantiate Israel’s claim.
- November 2023 – Assault on Al-Shifa Medical Complex: During Israel's military operation at Al-Shifa Hospital, the Israeli military released over 27 statements accusing the hospital of being used by Hamas to shield its operations. 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. The OHCHR’s November 8 report reflects this lack of verification.
I am raising this because the media has a responsibility to approach Israeli claims with skepticism and independently verify allegations, particularly when they are not corroborated by independent third parties. Failing to do so risks amplifying an Israeli narrative that justifies war crimes, specifically those outlined in article 8(2)(b)(ii) of the Rome Statute (1998), which criminalizes intentionally targeting civilian objects, including homes, schools, and hospitals.
Although Israel has not ratified the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) because Palestine acceded to the Rome Statute in 2015, making it a state party to the ICC. As a result, Israeli officials can still be prosecuted for war crimes under Article 8(2)(b)(i) of the Rome Statute, which prohibits intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking part in hostilities.
Therefore, CBC has an obligation to ensure its reporting does not lend credibility to unverified claims that serve to normalize violations of international humanitarian law. At a minimum, the article should have explicitly stated that no independent verification was available to support the Israeli military’s allegations.
Additionally, I take issue with the way CBC has reported the Palestinian death toll: “Israel's subsequent war on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.”
Health authorities in occupied Gaza have updated the Palestinian death toll to 61,709, rather than the previously reported figure of more than 48,000. The revised toll includes thousands of Palestinians who were initially reported missing and are now presumed to have been killed by Israel, according to, according to Al-Jazeera.
I urge CBC to update its reporting to reflect the most accurate and up-to-date figures.
As a public broadcaster, CBC has an obligation to uphold the highest journalistic standards by ensuring its reporting is accurate, does not contribute to the spread of misinformation, and reflects the most up-to-date death toll figures.
I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to your response.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East