"I would ask that you please stop trying to delegitimize the horrendous numbers of dead, injured and starving Palestinians by referring to the “Hamas-run” health ministry. Who else is going to run things and provide these awful numbers? No one else is allowed in because of Israel’s illegal siege. If Israel was so concerned about fake numbers then they could let independent journalists into Gaza to verify or counter the reports. The fact Israel does not permit this should be a serious red flag for all news institutions."
July 22, 2025
Dear David Baxter and the Brandon Sun newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding your article, “Anand joins call for end to Gaza war” by David Baxter with files
from Dylan Robertson and The Associated Press, published July 22, 2025.
I want to thank you for this article and tell you I appreciate much of the information it contains.
I would ask that you please stop trying to delegitimize the horrendous numbers of dead, injured and starving Palestinians by referring to the “Hamas-run” health ministry. Who else is going to run things and provide these awful numbers? No one else is allowed in because of Israel’s illegal siege. If Israel was so concerned about fake numbers then they could let independent journalists into Gaza to verify or counter the reports. The fact Israel does not permit this should be a serious red flag for all news institutions.
Could you also start to provide some context and skepticism for the fraudulent claims made by Israeli apologists like Oren Marmorstein. These pathetic denials and diversions should not be reprinted as if they are legitimate. If you are going to include quotes like “Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides” without verification when 60,000 Palestinians have been massacred by Israeli bombs and bullets you are in violation of fundamental journalistic principles and ethics.
Can you not see the gross imbalance in this?
Lastly, and most importantly, I think it is fundamentally immoral to not have a single Palestinian voice in this piece.
If you were reporting on Israeli deaths and starvation would you talk to all the pertinent actors except the Israelis? I don’t think so.
So why do the Palestinian victims not get an inch of column space?
There are many accessible voices available to your newsroom. For instance, the Palestinian ambassador to Canada, Mona Abuamara, or one of the thousands of Canadian Palestinians who have family in Gaza.
Did anyone in your newsroom try to contact anyone for a Palestinian perspective? I suspect it didn’t even occur to you.
Omitting the Palestinian perspective is an inexcusable omission that not only dehumanizes a downtrodden people but bolsters existing racism. This breaks with basic journalistic standards of fairness, balance and impartiality.
Will you commit to giving a voice to Palestinian victims in every story that reports on Gaza and the West Bank in the future?
Thank you for reading and I look forward to your response and answers to my five questions.
Jeff Winch