The Media Accountability Project  

The reality is that millions of people in the West are increasingly weary of Israel’s apartheid policies and oppose its genocidal campaign against Gazans. This should be the story we read every day in the news, but it is more than rare.

"Personally, even in Kelowna, I have watched my Muslim friends struggling through both Ramadan and now Eid al-Fitr, given the horrifying reality of life for Palestinians living in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza."

On April 5, 2024, CJPME learned that Globe and Mail’s Standards Editor, Sandra E. Martin, resolved issues with her article following a CJPME complaint. The article false claimed that “Gaza” was limiting journalists’ access to the region. Not only is Gaza not a government, it is Israel who is limiting access to journalists.

Unfortunately, her correction uses passive language and does not identify Israel as being responsible for denying Gaza a free press. CJPME has expressed its dissatisfaction with the change, but is glad the falsehood was resolved nonetheless.

"Unlike the descriptive copy at the top of the “Israel-Hamas War” topic page, a news article is expected to reflect a situation at a specific time. Leaving the Palestinian death toll obscured serves no purpose, as the number is not expected to be edited as more Palestinians are killed by Israel."

"Journalism permits for Gaza are granted by Israel, and Hamas secondarily can grant its own permit to journalists. Israel has blocked journalists from entering Gaza, not Hamas. The article you link to does not substantiate the claim you are making."

"Beyond the obfuscation of the Palestinian death toll, this description undermines the scale of Palestinian suffering in Gaza. Israel’s military assault and siege on Gaza has killed, but it has also wounded, starved, and displaced most Palestinians in the strip. Death, albeit salient, is only one component of Israel’s menacing military campaign in Gaza."

On March 26, CJPME learned that the Globe and Mail had finally made the edits requested on their landing page for the “Israel-Hamas War.” Before CJPME’s complaints, the description of the “Israel-Hamas War” on the Globe and Mail’s landing page read:

On Oct. 7 a surprise attack by militant group Hamas left around 1,200 Israelis dead, and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands.

As written in CJPME’s letter to the outlet, reciting the precise death toll for those killed in Israel but opting for “thousands” to describe the Palestinian death toll is blatantly disrespectful. The Standards Editor at The Globe emphasized that the descriptive copy at the top of topic pages cannot be updated frequently and is written in such a way as to allow it to remain static. She did, however, agree to update the number of casualties exceptionally. The description now reads:

On Oct. 7 a surprise attack by militant group Hamas left around 1,200 Israelis dead, and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed tens of thousands.

While this is not the edit we hoped for, we recognize The Globe’s inability to keep the number of casualties updated and appreciate their willingness to concede to our demands

On March 22, 2023, the Globe and Mail published a letter to the editor by CJPME President Thomas Woodley. Writing in response to an op-ed that argued the NDP’s motion on Palestine was “meaningless,” Woodley argued that “in the convoluted world of Canadian politics” the motion still have significance.

You can read the letter in its entirety here.

"It is unfortunate that an article with some key points about standing up against antisemitism would be diminished by such blatant disregard for truth."

"I insist that you add, at the very least, elements of context about the situation in Gaza, such as the ICJ ruling, Canada’s obligations under international law, and pro-Palestinian voices, to make your article balanced and for your readers to properly understand why this motion comes at such a pressing time."