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June 26, 2025 – Canada –
A new organization called Canadian Journalists for Justice in Palestine (CJJP) was officially launched, with simultaneous press events in Vancouver and Toronto. The group brings together Canadian journalists and media advocates committed to amplifying the plight of Palestinian reporters who have endured disproportionate violence, suppression, and fatalities in Gaza and the occupied territories.
CJJP emerged against a harrowing backdrop: data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) notes that at least 186 journalists and media workers have been killed across Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank over the past 20 months. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate puts the figure even higher, citing over 226 journalist deaths in that same timeframe, marking the Israel–Gaza war as the deadliest conflict for media workers on record. In 2024 alone, CPJ reported the highest annual journalist casualty rate since it began collecting data in 1992.
Sharon Nadeem, co-founder of CJJP, highlighted both the immediate need to protect Palestinian media and a longer-term ambition to improve Canadian mainstream media’s coverage of the region. She criticized Western outlets for failing to consistently acknowledge the targeting of Palestinian journalists or the consequences of international law violations.
CJJP’s advocacy efforts include open letters—signed by more than 300 Canadian journalists—that call on both Canadian media organizations and the federal government to ensure the safety of Palestinian reporters and improve reporting standards. These letters have emphasized that under international humanitarian law, journalists are civilians and must be shielded during conflict.
The group also aims to influence Canadian government policy by urging Ottawa to explicitly call for protections for journalists in Gaza and to elevate Palestinian voices in news reporting. CJJP argues that a more equitable media environment—inclusive of historical and social context—would help balance coverage and challenge prevailing biases.
By combining grassroots advocacy, professional solidarity, and policy engagement, CJJP seeks to confront both immediate threats and structural media injustices. Their strategy: promote both the physical safety of Palestinian journalists and fair, context-rich narratives in international journalism.
Reference –
https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/06/26/Canadian-Group-Defends-Palestinian-Journalists/
