"Long before October 7, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah had consistently emphasized the group’s commitment to resisting Israel’s illegal occupation and to standing against Israel’s abhorrent expansionist project. Hezbollah’s actions are rooted in this broader political and moral position — not merely a tactical alliance with Hamas."
June 6, 2025
To the Toronto Star and AP newsrooms,
Today is Eid al-Adha.
Yesterday, the Israeli occupation forces bombed several areas in Lebanon — including Hadath, Bourj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik, and the South. Many Lebanese were fasting in observance of this holy day when they received evacuation orders from the Israeli occupation forces.
As someone living in exile, I learned that my childhood home was among the buildings targeted. The Israeli occupation forces called each of my neighbors, threatening them to leave.
It often feels like the world is against us — if not through bombs, then through silence, or worse, through media narratives that echo and legitimize Israel’s war crimes.
While this particular article was, overall, relatively balanced, I take issue with the following line: “The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began on Oct. 8, 2023, when the Lebanese militant group began launching rockets across the border in support of its ally, Hamas, in Gaza.”
This framing is reductive and omits critical context. Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks were indeed launched in support of Hamas, but more broadly, they were a political expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of Israel’s ongoing genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip. Long before October 7, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah had consistently emphasized the group’s commitment to resisting Israel’s illegal occupation and to standing against Israel’s abhorrent expansionist project. Hezbollah’s actions are rooted in this broader political and moral position — not merely a tactical alliance with Hamas.
The article, in this sense, fails to mention Hezbollah’s stated motivations and omits the larger context: Israel is waging a genocidal campaign against Palestinians. I urge you to include this important context now and in future reporting.
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As I write this letter, the Madleen ship — part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition — is en route to Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians who have been deliberately starved for over 90 days due to Israel’s ongoing blockade. These valiant activists are truly risking their lives, fully aware that a previous flotilla was previously targeted by Israeli drones a month ago. While I cannot be on that ship, I offer my words instead — because words matter, and journalism, by extension, has the power to shape public opinion.
I would welcome the opportunity to engage further with the Toronto Star, which I have not yet had the chance to do since beginning my tenure at CJPME. I look forward to a constructive exchange.
Media analyst at Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East