The Media Accountability Project  

Gaza is internationally recognized as occupied by the Israeli occupation forces

"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations, and leading human rights organizations have consistently affirmed that Israel remains the occupying power in Gaza."

August 12, 2025

Dear Globe and Mail editorial newsroom,

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express serious concern regarding your August 11 article, “In a Gazan refugee camp, Netanyahu’s plans to expand war prompt fear, anger and many questions.” While I appreciate that the piece prioritizes the perspectives of Palestinian voices from Gaza, I take issue with the factually inaccurate language used in reference to Israel's occupation of the Gaza strip.

The article states that Israel “withdrew” from Gaza in 2005 without clarifying that Israel has maintained effective control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, maritime access, and population registry ever since. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations, and leading human rights organizations have consistently affirmed that Israel remains the occupying power in Gaza.

While Israel withdrew its permanent military presence in 2005, it retains full control over Gaza’s airspace, territorial waters, population registry, and nearly all movement of people and goods. The blockade it imposes is widely recognized as a form of collective punishment, illegal under international law.

Here are sources that corroborate Israel’s occupation as illegal:

1. Israel as the Occupying Power in Gaza Post-2005

  • International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The ICRC's "Occupation and International Humanitarian Law: Questions and Answers" discusses the concept of occupation and the conditions under which it is recognized.  

  • United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87) addresses the status of Gaza and Israel's control over it.

2. Control Over Airspace, Territorial Waters, and Population Registry

  • Airspace and Territorial Waters: The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87) discusses Israel's control over Gaza's airspace and maritime access.  

  • Population Registry: The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87) also addresses Israel's control over the Palestinian population registry, including in Gaza.

3. Movement of People and Goods

  • UN OCHA: The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87) highlights how Israel's permit system and closures affect Gaza's economy.  

4. Blockade as Collective Punishment

  • Amnesty International: Amnesty labels the blockade a form of collective punishment and a violation of international law.

I urge your newsroom to add the necessary historical and legal context about Israel’s illegal occupation of the Gaza strip.

By doing so, you would better align with CAJ principles on accuracy, fairness, and diversity and ensure that readers receive a balanced and fully contextualized account of Israel’s occupation of Palestine. 

The Media Accountability Project is an initiative of:
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