"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered the Israeli government to ensure the “unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance” to Palestinians in Gaza, well over one year ago. Israel’s use of starvation as a method of warfare amounts to collective punishment, which is prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention."
May 21, 2025
Dear Sandra E. Martin,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express my concern regarding the article titled “Morning Update: The food Israel won’t let into Gaza” published on May 21, 2025.
While the article is informative and comprehensive, it fails to adequately situate Israel’s actions in the framework of international law. Specifically, in the paragraph about Israel’s “complete ban on imports”, the article refers to a variety of dire humanitarian consequences, without directly attributing the situation to Israel’s denial of unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the occupied Gaza strip. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered the Israeli government to ensure the “unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance” to Palestinians in Gaza, well over one year ago. Israel’s use of starvation as a method of warfare amounts to collective punishment, which is prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
To uphold ethical standards of journalistic accuracy and accountability, the Globe and Mail should explicitly mention the international legal concerns raised by experts and UN bodies regarding Israel's blockade and starvation tactics, as well as acknowledge the systemic nature of the deprivation being imposed by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza as part a broader Israeli siege - a term used widely by the UN and humanitarian organisations.
Overall, I appreciate the Globe and Mail’s attention to this extremely important subject matter, and the diversity of perspectives that were covered in this article. With the provision of additional context, the article will be even more informative for readers. Thanks in advance for making the above additions, and I encourage the Globe and Mail to take these suggestions into account to meet standards of accuracy and accountability in future reporting.
Sincerely,
Alison Jenkins