Misinformation is a key part of Israel’s playbook, repeatedly used as part of its public relations strategy to justify its massacres, the illegal detention of Palestinians, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing.
To the CityNews and Associated Press Newsrooms,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (www.cjpme.org) regarding the article published on July 1, 2026 titled: “Israeli forces detain Palestinian women in West Bank raids.”
We appreciate that the article used accurate language, including the term “detained” rather than “imprisoned” to describe how the Israeli forces detained Itaf Badr in the occupied West Bank.
The distinction is significant. A prisoner is generally understood as someone who has been lawfully convicted of a criminal offense, following “a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal”, and is serving a sentence of imprisonment as a result. In other words, the term “prisoner” presupposes a lawful conviction and adherence to due process. Yet thousands of Palestinian men, women, minors, activists, journalists and doctors are held by Israel without charge or fair trial under Israel’s administrative detention policy. Referring to Palestinian detainees as “prisoners,” then, downplays the illegality of their detention.
We also appreciate that the article provided important context about Israel’s use of administrative detention, which allows Palestinians to be held for renewable periods of up to six months based on secret evidence that is withheld from both the detainee and their lawyer. Since the hostage-detainee exchanges began, we have consistently urged media outlets to include this context in their reporting, and we appreciate seeing it reflected in this article.
However, I have feedback regarding uncritically repeating Israeli claims without pushback or skepticism. The article mentions that the Israeli military said the Palestinian women who were detained by the Israeli forces “were suspected of promoting terrorist activities.”
Misinformation is a key part of Israel’s playbook, repeatedly used as part of its public relations strategy to justify its massacres, the illegal detention of Palestinians, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing. Some examples include:
- On May 2, 2026, the Israeli military destroyed an alleged Hezbollah infrastructure in Yaroun. However, the Catholic Church in Lebanon rejected claims that the compound was used for military purposes.
- 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.
- 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.
The list goes on and on.
Given Israel’s long and well-documented history of manufacturing lies to justify the killing of Palestinians, such uncorroborated statements should never be reported without context, skepticism, or independent verification. These allegations are always denied by Palestinians, resistance groups, and international investigations.
Kindly keep this feedback in future reporting. “Israel says X” is not journalism, particularly when they are claims issued by the Israeli military and government whose Prime Minister and former Defence Minister are currently subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
Kindly note that I write in good faith to keep the media accountable regarding coverage of West Asia.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to more responsible journalism from CityNews and Associated Press.
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East