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| Jewish Chronicle apologises after running Gaza appeal advert | Jewish Chronicle apologises after running Gaza appeal advert |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The Jewish Chronicle has apologised to readers who complained after it ran an advert for the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza crisis appeal. | The Jewish Chronicle has apologised to readers who complained after it ran an advert for the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza crisis appeal. |
| The weekly newspaper said running the advert was "meant as a purely humanitarian gesture". | The weekly newspaper said running the advert was "meant as a purely humanitarian gesture". |
| When it launched the appeal, the DEC said the latest conflict had made half a million people in Gaza homeless and warned of a "humanitarian emergency". | When it launched the appeal, the DEC said the latest conflict had made half a million people in Gaza homeless and warned of a "humanitarian emergency". |
| There is currently a five-day ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians. | There is currently a five-day ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| The Israelis launched a military operation on 8 July to stop militant attacks from Gaza. | The Israelis launched a military operation on 8 July to stop militant attacks from Gaza. |
| 'Editorial independence' | 'Editorial independence' |
| After a DEC advert featured in this week's Jewish Chronicle (JC), a Facebook page was set up calling on readers to boycott the title until it issued a "full apology". | After a DEC advert featured in this week's Jewish Chronicle (JC), a Facebook page was set up calling on readers to boycott the title until it issued a "full apology". |
| It accused the newspaper of "ignoring the sensitivity of this conflict which is having a day to day impact and effect on the Jewish community here". | |
| "We have nothing against giving aid to people caught up in a conflict" it said, but accused the Hamas rulers of Gaza of using aid in a campaign of violence against Israel. | |
| A message posted on the paper's own Facebook page pointed out that the advert was "not an expression of the JC's view". | A message posted on the paper's own Facebook page pointed out that the advert was "not an expression of the JC's view". |
| It added: "We have received complaints from readers angry at the decision. We apologise for the upset caused." | It added: "We have received complaints from readers angry at the decision. We apologise for the upset caused." |
| It said it would give space in the next issue to readers wanting to object to the advert. | It said it would give space in the next issue to readers wanting to object to the advert. |
| One reader replied: "Maybe you should donate the money you received from this diabolical advert to a pro Israel cause too. Utterly disgraceful." | |
| Others supported the decision to run the DEC advert, however, saying it was the "right thing to do". | |
| Writing on the JC website, editor Stephen Pollard said: "It is a critical part of our editorial independence that we do not allow advertisers to have any influence at all on the paper. | |
| "The ad was approved by the chairman of the JC, who has no involvement in editorial decisions, as an ad for humanitarian aid which nowhere makes political or partisan points." | |
| 'Humanitarian emergency' | 'Humanitarian emergency' |
| About 2,000 people have died since the fighting began last month. | About 2,000 people have died since the fighting began last month. |
| Those killed include more than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the United Nations. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the violence and three civilians in Israel have also died. | Those killed include more than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the United Nations. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the violence and three civilians in Israel have also died. |
| The DEC, an umbrella organisation which brings together 13 UK aid charities to deal with international crises, launched its campaign on 7 August. It said one and a half million people had "no or very limited" water or sanitation, with many in "urgent need of medical care". | The DEC, an umbrella organisation which brings together 13 UK aid charities to deal with international crises, launched its campaign on 7 August. It said one and a half million people had "no or very limited" water or sanitation, with many in "urgent need of medical care". |
| The BBC and other public service broadcasters agreed to air a DEC Gaza appeal. | The BBC and other public service broadcasters agreed to air a DEC Gaza appeal. |
| In 2009, the BBC and Sky chose not to broadcast a previous Gaza appeal, with the BBC's decision prompting angry protests and 40,000 complaints. | In 2009, the BBC and Sky chose not to broadcast a previous Gaza appeal, with the BBC's decision prompting angry protests and 40,000 complaints. |
| In a statement on the DEC's website on Thursday, addressing the "tone of the debate over Gaza", chief executive Saleh Saeed said: "The DEC's launch of a public appeal in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been wrongly interpreted in some quarters as a political statement. | In a statement on the DEC's website on Thursday, addressing the "tone of the debate over Gaza", chief executive Saleh Saeed said: "The DEC's launch of a public appeal in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been wrongly interpreted in some quarters as a political statement. |
| "It is nothing of the sort. Giving aid is not taking sides." | "It is nothing of the sort. Giving aid is not taking sides." |