Bereaved Families Condemn Radio Host Yinon Magal for 'Horrific Incitement'
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Bereaved Israeli families have strongly condemned radio host Yinon Magal for remarks they describe as "horrific incitement" and acting as a "proxy for Netanyahu." Families like Merav Svirsky and Ofri Bivas accused Magal of attempting to shift blame and distort the narrative surrounding the October 7 attacks and the subsequent hostage crisis. Magal later apologized for his remarks, stating he did not intend to offend the families and that he should have clarified his position earlier. The controversy stems from Magal's criticism of those involved in a book about the "abandonment" of Israelis during the attacks.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Bereaved families accuse radio host Yinon Magal of "horrific incitement" and acting as a "proxy for Netanyahu."
- Merav Svirsky stated Magal's comments were "horrific incitement" and that her family was "abandoned."
- Ofri Bivas called "abandonment" the accurate term for the events and accused Magal of delivering the Prime Minister's message.
- Magal apologized for his remarks, saying he did not intend to harm the families and should have clarified earlier.
- The controversy involves Magal's criticism of individuals involved in a book titled "Mr. Abandonment."
- Magal had previously called some critics "abhorrent people" and suggested voting for Netanyahu was their only absolution.
Bereaved families have sharply criticized radio host and Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal for his recent remarks, accusing him of acting as a "proxy for Netanyahu" to deflect blame. Merav Svirsky, who lost her parents on October 7 and whose brother was abducted and murdered in Gaza, stated that Magal's comments constituted "horrific incitement." She argued that if Magal were to read a list of those killed under Netanyahu's government, it would be a different narrative. Svirsky recounted the "abandonment" of her parents in their home for hours and the subsequent abandonment of hostages, including her brother, who she believes could have been saved.
Ofri Bivas, whose husband, children, and daughter-in-law were abducted and murdered, echoed these sentiments, asserting that "abandonment" accurately describes the reality. She accused Magal of being a messenger for the Prime Minister, delivering messages the premier cannot voice himself, as the government lacks achievements and resorts to shifting the discourse. Bivas emphasized that the term "abandonment" applies not only to the events of October 7 but also to the handling of the hostage situation, stating that her family members would have been alive if their return had been prioritized in the initial days of the war.
Magal, in response to the backlash, acknowledged on air that he should have clarified his remarks earlier and that his intention was not to harm the families. He had previously referred to individuals involved in writing the book "Mr. Abandonment," including bereaved family members, as "abhorrent people." This statement followed comments from a senior Biden administration official, Bret McGurk, who disputed claims that Israel refused a deal that could have freed all hostages immediately. Magal had claimed that Netanyahu was abandoned by the hostages and called these allegations a "falsehood." He read out a list of names, including Bivas and Svirsky, suggesting that the only absolution for them would be to vote for Netanyahu, though he later stated he was excluding bereaved families from his criticism.
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