The New York Times is promoting a pro-Israel agenda by blocking use of the word ”genocide” to describe Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.  

In January 2025, The New York Times blocked publication of an ad by the Quaker peace group the American Friends Service Committee.  

The ad stated: "Tell Congress to stop arming Israel's genocide in Gaza now!”

TAKE ACTION:

1. Use this page to urge The New York Times to stop hiding Israel’s genocide in Gaza and to publish the anti-genocide ad by the American Friends Service Committee.

2. Send a quick email to over 25 journalists and editors at The New York Times.  

3. Click "Start Writing" to edit our pre-written draft email before you send it.

DETAILS:

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that has worked for peace and justice for over a century. The AFSC cancelled planned advertising with The New York Times after The Times refused to allow an ad that referred to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The AFSC ad read:

"Tell Congress to stop arming Israel's genocide in Gaza now! As a Quaker organization, we work for peace. Join us. Tell the President and Congress to stop the killing and starvation in Gaza.”

Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published reports documenting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. But The New York Times refuses to acknowledge the fact of Israel’s crimes against humanity.

In the words of Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary for AFSC:

“The refusal of The New York Times to run paid digital ads that call for an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza is an outrageous attempt to sidestep the truth. Palestinians 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.”

SOURCES:

1. “New York Times rejects Quaker ad for calling Israel’s actions ‘genocide,’” news release, American Friends Service Committee, January 8, 2025, https://afsc.org/newsroom/new-york-times-rejects-quaker-ad-calling-israels-actions-genocide

2. Amnesty International report on Israeli genocide in Gaza, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/

3. Human Rights Watch report on Israeli genocide in Gaza, https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/19/israels-crime-extermination-acts-genocide-gaza