"Why does the Associated Press,and by extension, the Globe and Mail, mention the Israeli death toll while omitting the Palestinian toll? This is a form of selective reporting that undermines journalistic fairness and treats Palestinian lives as worthless."
April 30, 2025
Dear Globe and Mail and Associated Press newsrooms,
I am writing on behalf of CJPME (www.cjpme.org) to express my concerns with your wire article: “U.S. tells World Court that Israel isn’t required to work with UN Palestinian refugee agency” which was published in the Globe and Mail, on April 30, 2025.
First, I would like to flag a typo: The article refers to “The World Food Program,” whereas the correct name is World Food Programme, in line with the official UN agency spelling.
Second, I am disappointed by the glaring double standard in your reporting. While the article specifies that approximately 1,200 people were killed during Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, it merely states that Israel launched a war on Gaza—without mentioning the corresponding Palestinian death toll. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 52,400 Palestinians have been killed and 118,014 wounded since October 2023.
Why does the Associated Press,and by extension, the Globe and Mail,mention the Israeli death toll while omitting the Palestinian toll? This is a form of selective reporting that undermines journalistic fairness and treats Palestinian lives as worthless.
I urge your newsroom to uphold the principle of balanced reporting and include accurate casualty figures from both sides now and in future coverage.
Third, the article states: “Israel later alleged that about 100 other Palestinians in Gaza were Hamas members, but never provided any evidence to the United Nations.” It is unclear whether this refers to 100 UNRWA employees allegedly affiliated with Hamas, or to 100 Palestinians in Gaza more broadly. The current wording is ambiguous. Given that Hamas is a governing authority in Gaza—administering social services, operating media outlets, and maintaining a military wing (the Qassam Brigades)—it is not unexpected that more than 100 Palestinians might be affiliated in some capacity. I request that this sentence be revised for clarity to avoid ambiguity and potential misinterpretation.
I remind both outlets that my intention from writing is to keep the media accountable for their coverage of Israel-Palestine, with adherence to journalistic ethics standards.
I look forward to your response.
Lynn Naji
Media Analyst. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East