It is misleading to describe Israeli settlers as merely “taking over much of the territory,” as though this were a natural or benign process. Israeli settlements constitute a clear violation of international law (specifically, Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention) and represent the illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
To the Globe and Mail newsroom,
I am writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East regarding your article titled: “Hamas wants Marwan Barghouti freed in prisoner exchange, but Israel so far refuses.”
While the article provides a balanced overview of why Hamas wants Marwan Barghouti’s release as part of the detainee/hostage deal, there are two serious issues in the article that warrant immediate correction.
First, the article mentions that “The PA has lost credibility among Palestinians as Israel’s occupation of the West Bank has become more violent, with Jewish settlers taking over much of the territory, often with the help of Israeli soldiers.”
It is misleading to describe Israeli settlers as merely “taking over much of the territory,” as though this were a natural or benign process. Israeli settlements constitute a clear violation of international law (specifically, Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention) and represent the illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
The language used in this sentence should reflect the illegality of Israel's settlement expansion, not normalize it.
Second, the article’s framing of October 7 is one-sided. It reports that “Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, most of them Israelis, and taking 250 hostages,” but omits mention of the Palestinian death toll. Over the last two years, Israel’s genocidal campaign has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, with over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure deliberately destroyed.
Importantly, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are the subjects of International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Failing to include this context and the Palestinian death toll perpetuates a double standard that erases the asymmetry of power: it is a genocide and a prolonged campaign of extermination waged by an occupying power against a besieged population.
I look forward to your response and trust that these concerns will be taken seriously, in the name of accurate and fair reporting.
Lynn Naji
Media analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East