The Canadian Association of Journalists’ Ethics Guidelines emphasize that accuracy is a fundamental pillar of responsible journalism. The article should therefore be corrected to clearly identify Israel’s attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel for what they are: violations of international law that constitute war crimes.
To the Canadian Press and Associated Press,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East regarding the Associated Press article published by Canadian Press titled: “Consecutive Israeli strikes kill 4 Lebanese medics as Israel-Hezbollah war grinds on.”
The article reports that the Israeli forces killed four Lebanese rescue workers and wounded six others in three consecutive, targeted strikes on Wednesday, describing the attack as a “stark illustration of the human cost of the Israeli military campaign.”
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols strictly prohibit the intentional targeting or killing of paramedics and medical personnel, as well as attacks on ambulances, and classify such acts as war crimes.
However, the article characterizes Israel’s deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers - acts explicitly prohibited under international law - as a “stark illustration of the human cost of the Israeli military campaign.”
This language is misleading and downplays conduct that is explicitly prohibited under international law.
The Canadian Association of Journalists’ Ethics Guidelines emphasize that accuracy is a fundamental pillar of responsible journalism. The article should therefore be corrected to clearly identify Israel’s attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel for what they are: violations of international law that constitute war crimes.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East