AFSC Cancels New York Times Advertisement

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker peace organization, has canceled its planned advertisement in The New York Times after the newspaper rejected the use of the term 'genocide' to describe Israel's actions in Gaza. AFSC General Secretary Joyce Ajlouny criticized the decision as an 'outrageous attempt to sidestep the truth' and highlighted that Palestinians and their allies have long been marginalized in media narratives. The Times suggested replacing 'genocide' with 'war,' which AFSC rejected, arguing that the two terms have distinct meanings under international law. The organization pointed out that numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have characterized Israel's actions as genocide. AFSC's decision raises questions about the media's role in shaping public discourse on contentious issues. The New York Times has not publicly commented on this specific incident.