"While Netanyahu traveled freely to the United States, he remains the subject of an active ICC arrest warrant and is technically liable to be arrested in any country that is a party to the Rome Statute. His visit to Washington — with complete impunity despite credible accusations of the gravest international crimes — is critical context that should have been included in your reporting."
April 9, 2025
To the CTV Newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding your recent Associated Press article published on April 9, 2025, titled: “Israeli strike on Gaza apartment building kills at least 23, officials say.”
First, I take issue with the following paragraph:
You mention that Netanyahu traveled to Washington this week to meet with President Donald Trump, yet you omit the crucial context that, on November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2024.
You mention that Netanyahu traveled to Washington this week to meet with President Donald Trump, yet you omit the crucial context that, on November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2024.
The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” as “co-perpetrators” for numerous horrific acts, including the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The court concluded that these crimes “were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.”
It is also worth noting that while Netanyahu traveled freely to the United States, he remains the subject of an active ICC arrest warrant and is technically liable to be arrested in any country that is a party to the Rome Statute. His visit to Washington — with complete impunity despite credible accusations of the gravest international crimes — is critical context that should have been included in your reporting.
Second, you mention that Israel “has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it,” without acknowledging that such actions amount to illegal annexation or de facto annexation of Palestinian land. Again, this is essential context that should have been included in your reporting.
I urge CTV News to adopt a more balanced and legally informed approach to covering Israel’s genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip, adding the necessary context needed, particularly as Israeli officials face accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East