The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization that advocates for peace, said on Monday the group cancelled a planned advertisement in the New York Times in response to the paper refusing to allow it to refer to Israelās actions in Gaza as a genocide.
āThe refusal of The New York Times to run paid digital ads that call for an end to Israelās genocide in Gaza is an outrageous attempt to sidestep the truth,ā said Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary for the AFSC, in a press release. āPalestinians and allies have been silenced and marginalized in the media for decades as these institutions choose silence over accountability. It is only by challenging this reality that we can hope to forge a path toward a more just and equitable world.ā
The group claimed a representative with the advertising team at the New York Times suggested they use the word āwarā instead of āgenocideā.
According to the AFSC press release, when the group refused, the New York Times responded with an email that read, in part: āVarious international bodies, human rights organizations, and governments have differing views on the situation. In line with our commitment to factual accuracy and adherence to legal standards, we must ensure that all advertising content complies with these widely applied definitions.ā
The group claimed a representative with the advertising team at the New York Times suggested they use the word āwarā instead of āgenocideā.