"Since Mr. Brown’s article, CBC has—as far as I can tell—carefully avoided this unfair language by avoiding referring to Palestinians in administrative detention as “prisoners,” and from not referring to Israelis, especially soldiers, as “hostages.” Whether this is an official policy of CBC or a common practice by editors is impossible for me to know. Nonetheless, this AP article in question perpetuates the exact problem that Mr. Brown so succinctly identified."
May 14, 2025
Dear Basem Boshra, Chris Brown, and Josef Federman,
I'm writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, cjpme.org) to express concern about the article, “Hamas releases Edan Alexander, the last living American Israeli hostage in Gaza,” by AP and published on the CBC News website.
The language used in this article contradicts CBC’s standard practice regarding the description of Palestinian’s held under Israel’s administrative detention and Israelis held in Gaza.
In January 2025, CBC journalist Chris Brown wrote an article titled, “Hostage, prisoner or detainee? In the latest Israel-Hamas exchange, it's not always clear.” The piece explores the double standard of referring to Israelis held in Gaza as “hostages,” while referring to Palestinians held without charge as “prisoners.” This is especially glaring when it comes to Israeli soldiers, like Edan Alexander, who was taken captive while an active member of the IDF.
Since Mr. Brown’s article, CBC has—as far as I can tell—carefully avoided this unfair language by avoiding referring to Palestinians in administrative detention as “prisoners,” and from not referring to Israelis, especially soldiers, as “hostages.” Whether this is an official policy of CBC or a common practice by editors is impossible for me to know. Nonetheless, this AP article in question perpetuates the exact problem that Mr. Brown so succinctly identified.
It would be appropriate for CBC News to modify this AP article to meet its own standards, or at least edit the headline (I am aware that modifying articles cuts them off from future updates from the wire service). Edan Alexander was, by all accounts, a prisoner of war. The Palestinians referred to in this article who are held without charge by Israel arguably meet the definition of “hostage” far more neatly than Mr. Alexander.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East