More honesty from our media

Editor, The Toronto Star

Dear Sir,
We appreciate the article on the Hamas "mastermind" Mohammed Deif, but are appalled at the misinformation included in this Washington Post article:

• It was unfair quoting the Israeli source for this ceasefire violation and their claim was untrue that Hamas has broken other ceasefires.  Hamas has always been respectful of ceasefires; Hamas attacked Israelis in this recent ceasefire who appeared behind Gaza's lines in violation of the terms;*
• Hamas, backed by the Gaza population, is refusing to agree to any cessation of hostilities (although they did nothing to start them) until their Warsaw Ghetto-like siege is ended.  This is not merely an "economic blockade" ; it is a siege of land, sea and air that has turned Gaza into an open-air prison without access to the necessities of life that Israel is obligated to provide as the Occupying Power.  The Warsaw Ghetto lasted for 2 years; this has lasted for eight; Gazans can't live any longer under these conditions and they are ready to die rather than return to the slow deaths and the irreparable stunting of their children.
  

The censorship and bias of our media have come home to roost in the public misunderstandings of this situation.  The humanitarian catastrophe of this siege of Gaza has been censored, leaving the public in the dark about why Hamas is refusing to agree to cessation of  hostilities.  Hamas has been demonized, leading the public to rely on self-serving Israeli pronouncements of "fact" which are backed up by accommodating politicians.


A peaceful mideast is in the interests of the Canadian public, including a just peace for Palestinians.  What is happening in Gaza is not in the interest of Canadians.  We need more honesty from our media and more integrity from our politicians.

karin Brothers
Toronto

*An Electronic Intifada article by Ali Abunimeh documents the breakdown of this ceasefire in some detail.  Research on past ceasefires indicates that Hamas' reputation for upholding them is well-founded.  Israel maintains them only as long as they serve their purposes; their media can be counted on to blame Hamas regardless of the facts.