Yinon Magal, host of The Patriots on Channel 14, launched an attack on X/Twitter against released hostage Edan Alexander and his family for not thanking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In his post on X, Magal wrote: “Edan Alexander’s mother, in a disgusting display of good-naturedness and lack of culture, does not thank the prime minister.”
אמא של עידן אלכסנדר במופע דוחה של כפיות טובה וחוסר תרבות לא מודה לראש הממשלה.רק באקלים הרעיל והמופרע שיוצרים פה השמאל והתקשורת זה יכול לקרות
— ינון מגל (@YinonMagal) May 13, 2025
Following Magal's post, other users on X started sharing their own negative comments.
According to N12, one user wrote: "Yael Alexander, shame on you, the apple fell far from the tree. We hope you fly out of the State of Israel as soon as possible."
Another user added: "Mother of Edan Alexander, your son came back alive. Our children came back in a coffin. Most of our children voted for this government that you so easily despise. You are an evil woman. Get out of here. You are not worthy of the sacrifice we paid."
'Problematic circumstances'
Magal, a former Knesset member known for his right-wing views, continued his criticism on his show, targeting Edan, who was kidnapped by Hamas and held in captivity for 584 days.
According to N12, the host claimed that "the circumstances in which he was kidnapped are very problematic.”
מטה המשפחות להחזרת החטופים מבקש לחבק ולחזק את עידן ומשפחת אלכסנדר שאחרי כל מה שעברו מוצאים עצמם הערב תחת מתקפה מכוערת דווקא מצד ישראלים בתכנית המתקראת ״הפטריוטים״.כפי שאמרה יעל אלכסנדר הערב: אנחנו בוחרים באחדות, באהבת אדם ובמחויבות לערכים עליהם גדלנו.הזמן אוזל, העולם מסתכל…
— מטה המשפחות להחזרת החטופים והנעדרים (@BringThemHome23) May 13, 2025
In response to the hateful comments, the Hostages Families Forum responded in a post on X, stating that they wish to "embrace and strengthen Edan and the Alexander family, who after everything they have been through find themselves under an ugly attack tonight, specifically by Israelis on a program called 'The Patriots.'
As Yael Alexander said tonight: We choose unity, love of people, and commitment to the values we were raised on. Time is running out, the world is watching, and history will remember."