"I remind the CBC that my concerns stem from a good faith intention to hold journalists and Canadian media accountable in their reporting of Israel-and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and raise awareness about harmful stereotypes that dehumanize Palestinians."
June 26, 2025
To the CBC Newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (www.cjpme.org) regarding the article written by Sarah Jabakhanji on June 25, 2025.
We take issue with the headline of the article: “Why are hundreds of Palestinians getting killed trying to access food in Gaza?”
The headline should have specified that hundreds of Palestinians are getting killed by Israel trying to access food in Gaza.
This is not simply about assigning blame—it is about offering readers essential context and ensuring that Israel is not absolved of accountability. Without this clarity, Palestinian suffering is at risk of being portrayed as occurring in a vacuum, rather than as the deliberate result of Israel’s so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation scheme which was designed to further humiliate Palestinians of their inherent right as human beings to food, medicine, and other essential needs of life.
We kindly ask you to change your headline to read: “Why are hundreds of Palestinians getting killed by Israel trying to access food in Gaza?”
Second, the article mentions that “Palestinian gangs have also been blamed by witnesses for some of the violence that erupts near the areas where aid is expected to arrive.”
There is some important context missing.
The reporting should have made clear that Israel has been actively arming Palestinian gangs to bring about chaos and deepen internal divisions among Palestinians. By presenting this violence as merely internal disorder, without naming Israel’s role in orchestrating it, the article misleads readers and reinforces a narrative that blames Palestinians for their own suffering.
We kindly ask that the article be amended to include this essential context and that the headline be changed accordingly.
I remind the CBC that my concerns stem from a good faith intention to hold journalists and Canadian media accountable in their reporting of Israel-and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and raise awareness about harmful stereotypes that dehumanize Palestinians.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji
Media Analyst at Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East