"By framing Israel’s aggression as the start of the conflict without this legal context, the article suggests a false moral equivalence between unlawful aggression and retaliation."
June 19, 2025
To the Toronto Star and Associated Press newsrooms,
I am contacting you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East regarding the Associated Press article published by Toronto Star titled: “Iranian missiles hit a hospital and wound over 200. Israel threatens Iran’s top leader.”
First, we take issue with the framing of Israel’s attacks on Iran in this sentence: “The conflict began last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists.”
The article states the conflict began with a “surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes” but omits crucial legal context: Israel’s attacks were an unprovoked act of aggression and constitute a flagrant violation of international law. Under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the use of force by one state against another is prohibited unless in self-defence against an armed attack (Article 51) or with explicit authorization by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII. In this case, there was no UN mandate, nor was there evidence of an imminent threat from Iran. Neither the UN nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have accused Iran of actively developing a nuclear weapon. Israel, for its part, has provided no concrete evidence to substantiate its claim that Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. As such, these strikes were unlawful under international law.
By framing Israel’s aggression as the start of the conflict without this legal context, the article suggests a false moral equivalence between unlawful aggression and retaliation.
We urge the Toronto Star to clarify that Israel’s airstrikes were illegal under international law.
Second, the article notes that “Israel’s campaign has targeted Iran’s enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran, and a nuclear site in Isfahan.” This passage again omits important legal context. The IAEA has confirmed that these are civilian nuclear facilities under international safeguards. Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, warned that targeting such sites risks a catastrophic radioactive leak, calling it a violation of international law.
Again, we ask urge the Toronto Star to clarify that Israel’s airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were illegal under international law.
I await your response.
Lynn Naji
Media Analyst at Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East