"In the interest of fairness and accuracy, we ask that future articles avoid using unverified assertions. If you do, we ask that you more clearly identify when a statement or perspective is based on opinion and not validated by fact or evidence. We would also ask that you avoid identifying the Health Ministry as ‘part of the Hamas-run government’ or ‘Hamas run’ but rather name it as the Gaza Health Ministry or the Palestinian Health Ministry."
Dear Ms. Pecoskie, Ms. Stepan, Ms.Paddon and Mr. Federman,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) with concerns related to The Associated Press article, Iran offers plan to reopen strait, resume nuclear talks with U.S that The Hamilton Spectator published on November 3, 2026. While we recognize this article originates from The Associated Press, The Hamilton Spectator is ultimately responsible for the content it publishes and the framing presented to its audience.
It was disappointing that the article uncritically repeats Israel’s claim that “… Hamas uses civilians as human shields”. “Israel says” is not fact and civilians used as human shields by Hamas has never been proven by Israel. In fact, outside sources such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) were unable to independently verify Israel’s claim in their November 8th, 2024 report. Unsubstantiated claims included in articles must be framed as unverified assertions.
Thank you for naming that more than 74,500 Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023. However, the statement that the Gaza Health Ministry does not “distinguish between civilians and militants” and that it is “part of the Hamas-run government” insinuates that most of those killed were legitimate enemy fighters and also minimizes Israel’s responsibility in the number of civilian deaths. In doing so, you effectively echo Israeli war propaganda which seeks to characterize the death count as inflated by partisan (Hamas) sources.
The evidence does not support the insinuation. On the contrary, NATO members and even Israel rely on the Gaza’s Ministry of Health’s data. Their intelligence services view the figures as generally accurate. A classified Israeli military database indicates that, as of May 2025, approximately 83 per cent of Palestinians killed in Gaza were civilians. Fewer than 9,000 of the dead were members of the military wings of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Regardless of one’s opinion of Hamas, it is the de facto governing authority in Gaza. The Health Ministry operates under its jurisdiction — as any civil institution would under a local government. Framing it as the “Hamas-run” Health Ministry is not a neutral designation; it is a politically loaded term that for many raises suspicion and bias.
In the interest of fairness and accuracy, we ask that future articles avoid using unverified assertions. If you do, we ask that you more clearly identify when a statement or perspective is based on opinion and not validated by fact or evidence. We would also ask that you avoid identifying the Health Ministry as ‘part of the Hamas-run government’ or ‘Hamas run’ but rather name it as the Gaza Health Ministry or the Palestinian Health Ministry.
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard
Kelowna, British Columbia