"Lastly, in general, the article fails to frame Israel’s tactics and actions as potential war crimes. At a minimum, the article should indicate that Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid, while also strictly adhering to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence."
June 11, 2025
Dear CBC editors and Mr. Brown,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express concern regarding the article titled “Israel appears to believe its war goals are getting closer as Gaza teeters on brink of starvation” posted on June 11, 2025.
The article states that “More than 110 people have been killed at, or near, aid distribution sites in Gaza. Some, it appears, were shot by Israeli soldiers; others by unknown gunmen. Still others were killed in the chaos that predictably accompanies starving people rushing to get limited supplies.” By referring to the killings of civilians at humanitarian aid sites as being caused by “unknown gunman”, “chaos” or “starving people rushing to get food”, the article dilutes the role of the Israeli military and fails to clarify that these deaths are a predictable outcome of Israel’s systematic attacks on civilians in Gaza seeking aid.
A CNN forensic investigation has found strong evidence, including geolocated video and eyewitness accounts, that the Israeli Defence Forces opened fire on crowds of starving Palestinians seeking aid in Rafah. Moreover, Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza seeking aid are not new - Israeli violations have been systematic. On 29 February 2024, 112 individuals were killed during the flour massacre when Israeli forces fired on crowds of Palestinians gathered to collect food. UN experts at the time indicated that “Israel has also opened fire on humanitarian aid convoys on several occasions, despite the fact that the convoys shared their coordinates with Israel.”
Further, although the article states that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that Hamas was stealing or diverting vast quantities of food aid”, the article would benefit from the relevant context from the Crisis Group report: that comprehensive audits show that less than 1 per cent of prior assistance has been lost to theft, far below levels elsewhere, that Israel has released no evidence for its claims of rampant pillage, and that the Abu Shabab gang, which is armed and protected by Israel, has been the single most prolific looter since the war began.
Lastly, in general, the article fails to frame Israel’s tactics and actions as potential war crimes. At a minimum, the article should indicate that Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid, while also strictly adhering to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
Thanks in advance for making these corrections.
Sincerely,
Alison Jenkins