The Media Accountability Project  

IDF claims should be questioned

The Israeli military’s claims that they regret harming civilians ring hollow when Israeli officials outright openly make dehumanizing statements against Palestinians.

To the Globe and Mail and Associated Press,  

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (www.cjpme.org) regarding the Associated Press article published today by the Globe and Mail titled: “Israeli strike kills World Cup screening organizer in Gaza just before start of Egypt-Argentina match.”

The article mentions that the “Israel’s military says its strikes target militants and it regrets harm to civilians” without offering pushback or raising skepticism regarding these claims.

The Israeli military’s claims that they regret harming civilians ring hollow when Israeli officials outright openly make dehumanizing statements against Palestinians. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently boasted about starving Palestinians saying: “they used to come out fat; today they come in fat and leave thin.” On May 6, he posted a video of AI-generated images in a nod to the death penalty law targeting Palestinian detainees. On May 31, he called on the Israeli military to “flatten Beirut’s suburbs to the ground.” 

This is but a microcosm of numerous other anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian dehumanizing rhetoric made by Israeli officials.

Given Israel’s long and well-documented history of manufacturing lies to justify the killing of Palestinians, statements such as the Israeli military regrets harming civilians should never be reported without context or at the very least followed by adding Palestinian perspectives.

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 the Globe and Mail and Associated Press. 

 

Kind regards,

Lynn Naji

Media Analyst

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

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