The Media Accountability Project  

Canadian journalistic ethics as outlined by the Canadian Association of Journalists  require skepticism when one actor in a story disputes verified data without providing evidence. I urge your newsroom to apply this same standard consistently. Please ensure that this principle is reflected in this article and in all future coverage of Gaza.

Rather, Israel inflicted a well-documented mass displacement and dispossession of more than 700,000 Palestinians starting in 1948, and has continued with illegal settlements, evictions, land confiscation, home demolitions and deadly settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, along with many other ongoing injustices suffered by Palestinians due to Israel’s illegal, military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians are indisputably legitimate victims of the policies and actions of Israel.

"I believe that The Globe and Mail should either update this piece, or publish a follow up which accurately represents the perspectives and grievances of marginalized groups who have cut ties with Fierté Montréal. I also suggest your reports on Gaza and Palestinians are centered within the frameworks of international law and human rights. I would also avoid using arguments that promote double standards and that dehumanize queer Arabs and Palestinians."

"Rather than center the piece on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza who are facing genocide and famine, the Globe and Mail is more concerned with Israel’s reputation and losing their 'war' against Hamas — not the fact they are committing war crimes."

On Jan. 20, 2025, during a CBC broadcast on the ceasefire in Gaza, Anchor Natasha Fatah dismissed the term genocide during a CBC News interview with Palestinian-Canadian Israa Alsaafin, who was mourning her brother's death in Gaza. This response exemplified CBC’s editorial choices that actively dehumanize and marginalize Palestinian perspectives. When Ms. Alsaafin shared how her brother was killed in what she described as a genocide, the anchor responded by stating that “‘war’ is more appropriate” and asserting that “we [CBC reporters] cannot use that word [genocide] to describe what is happening.”

Following this shameful segment, CJPME’s MAP team issued a media alert on the broadcast calling out the CBC for reprimanding a Palestinian on air for the words she used reflecting her lived experience. 

The broad grassroots pushback against this broadcast pressured the CBC to issue a formal correction:

“On Jan. 20, during an interview on CBC News Network, a guest used the word genocide to describe the actions of Israel in Gaza. As part of her response, our host stated, "we cannot use that word to describe what is happening…" In fact, CBC News does not prohibit specific words in our reporting, but instead requires precise attribution and reporting on the debates that shape public policy, including debates about language. This was not made clear in this instance and the host's comment left an inaccurate representation of CBC standards.”

This statement represents a significant step forward in holding media organizations accountable for their coverage of Palestinian narratives. Such an admission by our public broadcaster is rare. By raising concerns about the dismissal of the term genocide and the lack of empathy during a critical interview, CJPME and its allies successfully compelled CBC to publicly address the issue. While the CBC's response falls short in many ways, it is a win in the battle for better media coverage nonetheless.

Such corrections must be accompanied by proactive steps to include diverse voices and uphold ethical journalism standards, ensuring that Palestinian suffering and narratives are fairly represented by the CBC.

"When Ms. Alsaafin shared how her brother was killed in what she described as a genocide, the anchor responded by stating that “‘war’ is more appropriate” and asserting that “we [CBC reporters] cannot use that word [genocide] to describe what is happening.” MAP responders can review the transcript of this exchange or watch the full video."

"Of course, we’re not interested in dialogue with someone who denies Israel’s genocide in occupied Gaza – since when do the colonizer and the colonized sit at the same table? By failing to challenge these statements, The Stony Plain Reporter is complicit in spreading the dangerous narrative that pro-Palestinian supporters are a threat, which unfairly delegitimizes the entire, overwhelmingly peaceful pro-Palestine movement in Canada."

Why is this not enough? Why is Palestinian testimony being treated as secondary?  

"Already back in November the BBC filmed Israeli construction in the buffer zone. Now we see that Netanyahu has ordered the military to remain in Mt. Hermon and announced 40 million shekels to increase the settler population in the occupied Golan Heights."

"Kinsella’s harrowing tale of Yousef’s journey from potential Hamas leader to Mossad agent rings hollow when it’s used to legitimize Muslim hate speech. That’s not a very punk opinion if you ask me."