We feel that it is really important to be clear and not downplay the horrors that are unfolding or the level of criminality in what Isreal is doing. For this reason, I would urge you to change the word “hundreds” to “thousands”.
Dear Hill Times Editors,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to request a small amendment to with regards to Stuart Benson’s article: "Middle East experts ‘cautiously optimistic’ over Trump’s Gaza peace plan, but see little role for Canada to play" published on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
In the piece, Mr. Benson states:
“As of Oct. 1, more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ensuing war on Hamas in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Hundreds of journalists, health-care professionals, and humanitarian aid workers have also been killed in the conflict.”
The number is more likely to be "thousands" of journalists, healthcare workers, and humanitarian aid workers. There is mounting evidence and credible data from reputable sources providing numbers that exceed this estimate.
For example, the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) reports that following two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, at least 1,722 healthcare workers have been killed, an average of more than two killed every day. Since Israel broke the temporary ceasefire in March 2025, that toll has risen to an average of three per day.
At least 254 journalists have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza government. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reported similar figures. The first year of the war was the deadliest for media workers, with 175 killed.
The Israeli army has killed at least 540 aid workers, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The math on these conservative estimates is around 2,500 and we know that the real numbers are likely to be much higher if there is ever a chance to investigate and uncover the full extent of Israel’s genocidal siege.
We feel that it is really important to be clear and not downplay the horrors that are unfolding or the level of criminality in what Isreal is doing. For this reason, I would urge you to change the word “hundreds” to “thousands”.
Sincerely,
Nikki Mutch
Media Advocate
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East