I take issue with the paragraph that quotes the Israeli forces using the term “terrorist” to inform readers about the alleged motivation behind why they opened fire on a car carrying the Bani Odeh family in the town of Tammun in the northern occupied West Bank, killing Ali Khaled Bani Odeh, 37, his wife Waad, 35, and two of their sons, Mohammad (5) and Othman (7). The Star should have provided context about Israel’s documented history of weaponizing the term “terrorism” as a pretext to justify the killing and illegal detention of Palestinians.
To the Toronto Star and Associated Press,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (www.cjpme.org) regarding the AP article published by Toronto Star on March 15, 2026 titled: “Israeli soldiers fire on family car in occupied West Bank, killing 4.”
I take issue with the paragraph that quotes the Israeli forces using the term “terrorist” to inform readers about the alleged motivation behind why they opened fire on a car carrying the Bani Odeh family in the town of Tammun in the northern occupied West Bank, killing Ali Khaled Bani Odeh, 37, his wife Waad, 35, and two of their sons, Mohammad (5) and Othman (7). The Star should have provided context about Israel’s documented history of weaponizing the term “terrorism” as a pretext to justify the killing and illegal detention of Palestinians.
Presenting the language used by the Israeli forces uncritically without raising skepticism towards the dehumanizing term “terrorist” in reference to Palestinians perpetuates anti-Palestinian racism as defined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA). This racism includes dehumanizing Palestinians, erasing their narratives, and stereotyping them as inherently violent or threatening.
Furthermore, the Israeli forces have a history of spreading misinformation.
- In 2025, Israeli officials falsely alleged that martyred journalist Anas al-Sharif was affiliated with Hamas, a claim rejected by Al Jazeera, which affirmed that he had no such affiliation.
- Similarly, in May 2022, Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot while covering an Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank while wearing a vest clearly marked “Press.” Israeli officials initially blamed Palestinians and circulated video of Palestinian gunfire as supposed evidence. Multiple independent investigations later concluded that Abu Akleh was killed by an Israeli soldier.
- In 2015, Ahmad Mansara, a Palestinian political prisoner from Beir Hanina in occupied Jerusalem was thirteen years old when he was arrested over alleged accusations that he was involved in a stabbing carried out by his cousin in Pisgat Ze’ev, an illegal settlement in Jerusalem. Although the evidence showed that he himself harmed no one, an Israeli military court convicted him of attempted murder and sentenced him to nine and a half years in prison.
Israel has a long and well-documented history of spreading misinformation to justify its war crimes and crimes against humanity. As outlined in the Canadian Association of Journalists’ ethics guidelines, fairness and diversity in reporting are pillars of responsible journalism. The article should therefore be changed to add Palestinian perspectives and provide context regarding Israel’s documented use of “terrorism” as a pretext to spread misinformation and justify the killing of Palestinians.